Men Need Love Too — Vulnerability, Father Wounds, and Healing Masculinity

In 2023, I began shaping a workshop called “Men Need Love Too.” At the time, I even created flyers and graphics, but with motherhood on the horizon, I chose to pause. The idea never left me. This summer of 2025, I gave it a voice through my podcast, Becoming H.U.M. — Healing Unspoken Masculinity.

Now, after attending a recent training on parenting and work balance, the same themes resurfaced: fatherhood, masculinity, patriarchy, and the masks men wear. It hit me again — this isn’t a passing thought. This is a necessary conversation.

When we strip men of their right to be vulnerable, we strip them of their humanity.

The Cost of Silence

Men are often told to be stoic, unshakable, and strong. But what’s rarely acknowledged is the toll of that silence. Behind the masks, men carry grief, tenderness, and longing that rarely sees the light.

Here’s what the data shows: in the U.S., men die by suicide nearly 4 times more often than women. Men account for almost 80% of all suicide deaths.

Father Wounds + How We Love

When I talk about father wounds, I’m not only talking about physical absence. These wounds show up as criticism, unmet needs, or emotional distance — and they ripple through generations.

A father’s presence, or lack thereof, influences how we see ourselves, how we trust others, and how we show up in relationships. Only about 40% of men with a diagnosed mental illness even received care in the past year, compared to ~52% of women. We love based on how we first learned to be loved.

Vulnerability as Strength

I’ve seen it firsthand in my yoga practice. Men come into the room tense, armored, guarded. But as the space softens, they allow themselves to breathe, to release, to speak. That shift isn’t small — it’s revolutionary.

Among adults aged 18–44, only about 17.8% of men had received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, compared to ~28–30% of women. When men choose to be vulnerable, families breathe easier. Communities become softer. Cycles finally break.

The Crown Connection

In my work, I tie this healing to the crown chakra — our connection to truth, purpose, and divine love. Healing father wounds and embracing vulnerability isn’t about abandoning masculinity. It’s about balance. The crown reminds us that every soul — regardless of gender — deserves to feel seen, safe, and whole.

A Call to Reimagine Masculinity

As a mother, as a friend, and as a daughter who grew up watching my father navigate public strength and private tenderness — I believe it’s time to reimagine masculinity. This work isn’t just for men; it’s for everyone who loves them.

To every father, son, brother, and partner: you deserve spaces where your voice matters, where your tears are honored, and where your healing is welcomed.

Men deserve love, healing, and space to be whole.

Thank you for evolving with me, always. — Ka’Cheena