“Masculine energy” includes softness, vulnerability, and love

On January 10, Mark Zuckerberg joined the Joe Rogan Experience podcast for an almost three-hour long conversation. About halfway through, Zuckerberg shared a controversial opinion about the corporate world needing more “masculine energy” that made its way around the internet and in digital publications such as Mashable, The Conversation Canada, The New York Times, and Forbes to name a few.

Many of us can agree that masculinity itself isn’t “bad,” but we know what Zuckerberg meant when he said corporate culture needs more of it. He meant a culture that “celebrates the aggression a bit more,” isn’t “neutered,” and is more like his experience with his “guy friends” in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and mixed martial arts (MMA) where they get to “beat each other a bit.”

In my opinion, Zuckerberg’s equating of masculine energy to aggression is narrow-minded and is not the type of energy needed in the corporate world.

When I think about aggression, I don’t think about masculine energy, I think about bullying, intimidation, harassment, narcissism, authoritarianism, and other abusive behaviours that have negative impacts for workers. These are not inherently masculine traits and corporate culture definitely doesn’t need more aggression. But, maybe corporate culture does need a different type of masculine energy.

It’s possible even that corporate culture could take notes from BJJ and MMA by embodying values such as discipline, mutual respect, humility, integrity, balance, focus, and more. However, I don’t think those are the characteristics Zuckerberg was getting at. What him and Joe Rogan talked about in the podcast was the importance of aggression for winning fights. The office isn’t a fighting ring and masculinity isn’t a combat sport.

Masculinity (and gender) is a social construct, and there is no one set of attributes that is inherently masculine. Masculinity, like gender, is a spectrum and can include qualities like softness, vulnerability, and care. This article isn’t meant to establish a set of gendered qualities, but to expand the view of masculinity in Zuckerberg’s comments. The “masculine” attributes below are found in all expressions of gender.

What type of masculine energy is needed in the workplace?

Here are three types of masculine energy that I think we need more of in corporate culture. These traits are not exclusively masculine, but they are parts of masculinity that don’t get as much attention as others.

Masculine energy that’s soft

Men are often conditioned to be “tough” and toughness often shows up as suppressing emotions and feeding aggression. However, it takes great strength to soften and express how you feel and that ability isn’t inherently feminine.

Another soft trait of masculine energy is the ability to listen. Dominating meetings and being unwavering in opinions are often touted as strong leadership skills that deliver results. When you take time to listen, though, you gain insight you wouldn’t otherwise and create a more collaborative space where innovative solutions emerge and mutual support is felt when challenges arise.

Masculine energy that’s vulnerable

Society has pigeon-holed masculine energy as the courageous hero who shows no fear. This encourages men to hide their vulnerability. Men get scared too and that’s okay. Once we name our fears we can better face them and find the courage to seek help. And, it’s okay for men not to know what to do, to make mistakes, and to ask for help.

Masculine energy that’s caring

Care in the workplace helps ensure workers receive the support, access, and tools they need to thrive in their roles. When our needs are met at work, we’re more able to focus on and accomplish the tasks at hand. Masculinity that’s caring is needed in the workplace to carry their fair share of responsibility.

Conclusion

Masculine energy is found along the full spectrum of gender and sexuality, and we must protect this right. 2SLGBTQIA+ communities have been pivotal in advancing workers’ rights for everyone and yet are among the first to have their rights infringed upon. For example, Zuckerberg’s comments came at the same time that Meta rolled back protections for 2SLGBTQ+ folks.

The masculinity that Zuckerberg touted is a small fraction of what it means to have masculine energy and yet is the foundation upon which many corporations are founded. A broader, more soft, vulnerable, and caring expression of masculinity is what’s truly needed in our workplaces. If Zuckerberg is serious about needing more masculine energy, he should look inwards first.

This article was updated on February 22, 2026.