Men and Masculinity: The Next Generation
Evolving Masculinity on Campus
As National Masculinity Week approaches, universities can equip young men with tools for authentic growth. I’m Judson Kauffman, a Transformational Coach and keynote speaker who’s guided thousands through the chaos of modern manhood. My talks cut through the noise, blending raw stories with actionable insights to foster conscious masculinity. Here’s why your campus needs this conversation—and how to bring it in.
My Edge-of-Death Wake-Up Call
Five years ago, I stood on the brink, ready to end it because I couldn’t square society’s “man up” script with my inner turmoil. That moment forced a truth: real power comes from integrating every part of yourself—strength, shadows, emotions. It’s terrifying work, but it’s the key to thriving. The masculinity debate is a mess, politicized and divisive. As a speaker, I’ve found a better way, beyond culture wars, that opens audiences up to our shared humanity, our shared suffering, and our shared power.
The Old Script: Neoliberal Masculinity’s Trap
From the ’80s to early 2010s (what academics refer to as “the neoliberal era”, manhood meant grind-or-die: bury emotions, outwork everyone, hide flaws, and kick some ass. We idolized the stoic cowboy, provider-protector without cracks, and who didn’t even cry during Ole Yeller. But that armor crushed us, breeding isolation and depression. Economic shifts—like manufacturing jobs dropping 35% since 1980—gutted the breadwinner role from 70% in the ’50s to under 30% now. Men were unbreakable until the world broke them.
The Woke Backlash: Good Intentions, Bad Fit
Then came the reckoning, what academics call the post-neoliberal era, but what has become known as the “woke era”: #MeToo, George Floyd, Occupy Wall Street, and women’s marches exposed systemic flaws. This culture pushed men to soften, embrace vulnerability, and ditch dominance. It was a partial fix—I’ve coached guys to unpack shame they never voiced. But it overcorrected, branding ambition or bravery as toxic, alienating men who felt shamed for their wiring. Result? More shutdown, deeper disconnection. Male suicides are 3.85x women’s, up 30% since 2000; loneliness spiked from 46% in 2018 to 63% by 2020. Campuses see this in mental health crises and fractured dialogues. Woke missed hierarchies’ value—merit-based ones, like wolf packs, drive healthy growth for men. Men need structure and respect, not aimlessness and shame.
The Next Era: Conscious Masculinity for Campus Leaders
Forget pendulums or labels like “toxic”, “woke”, or “positive masculinity”—there’s no negative masculinity, nothing inherently wrong with being male, there’s just imbalance. Enter conscious masculinity: balancing bravery (masculine) with courage (feminine). It’s systems-smart, drawing from psychological theories like Spiral Dynamics and Integral Theory to bridge left-right divides, while also rooting in ancient spiritual wisdom for universal, intuitive resonance. Trust instincts, but check impact. Like my soccer coach buddy: fierce on the field, but connects emotionally to lead kids right—no screaming asshole vibes. Or a client I coach: owns authority, invites feedback, turns tension into breakthroughs. He’s both teddy and bear. This is what I teach.
This builds on the woke era’s vulnerability gift but channels biology—testosterone’s drive for risk, resilience—intentionally. It tackles biases: we’re all left- or right-leaning, but great men detach to see the full field. As Kierkegaard said, the illusion of knowledge blocks truth. On campus, this means young men owning emotions without losing edge, leading inclusively.
Call to Campuses: Lead the Evolution
A social era is ending—now we plant healthy seeds for a better one, with roots in love, compassion, and systems thinking. Conscious masculinity owns manhood without apology: provide, protect, connect from wholeness. We’re not brutes or doormats; we’re fierce, compassionate forces. Universities: hire me for National Masculinity Week. My keynotes spark change, drawing from my suicide-brink turnaround. Vulnerability amplified my strength—it’ll do the same for your students. We need men to be all they are, shaping systems better.
Invite Me to Speak
Ready to evolve masculinity on your campus? Contact CAMPUSPEAK!
Let’s integrate, act, and build leaders who thrive. Step up—your students deserve it.
Conscious Masculinity