Be a (Vulnerable) Man: Transforming Hegemonic Masculinity | Kyle Key | TEDxUCincinnati

Key has seen the strength that one displays through the action of being vulnerable. He was conditioned for a long time to not open up about his struggles--or even his feelings, for that matter. For Key, a lot of this pressure had to do with unhealthy expectations around masculinity and what it meant to "be a man." Growing in emotional intelligence, he recognized how damaging it was to keep everything bottled inside. After therapy, mental health diagnoses, and grappling with stigma, Key finally decided to loudly and proudly share his experiences with others. Kyle holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, both from the University of Cincinnati. He has worked in Higher Education for nearly a decade, and finds that his experience in the field of mental health is invaluable when working with students at major transition points in their lives. Modeling vulnerability has become a key facet in how he teaches, especially when it comes to difficult subjects. In addition to destigmatizing mental health struggles, he is also interested in the impact of social systems on groups of people—as well as how to make gradual, positive change to those systems over time. In his personal life, he is married to an incredible partner; together, they are always planning new travel adventures while still making meaningful time for friends and family. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx