Mark Zuckerberg believes workplaces have to change into more “masculine” – so that is bad for all employees, no matter their gender

As meta-CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared on On a January 10, 2025 episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” he complained that corporate culture had change into too “feminine” and its “male energy” and foregoing supposedly helpful properties comparable to aggression.

The workplace, he concluded, is “castrated.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Zuckerberg also pursues stereotypically male pursuits in his personal life. He has change into one Mixed Martial Arts lover and has shared his affinity for Smoking meat. On his extensive Hawaiian terrainhe even began with a bow and arrow Pig hunting.

He has come a good distance Geeky picture his youth.

But is Zuckerberg right? Do U.S. workplaces have to adopt a more diesel-powered, street-fighting, carnivorous mentality?

As a social psychologist who studies masculinity and aggressionI believe it's vital to guage what the science says about Zuckerbeg's claims — and consider what which means for the long run of workplace culture within the United States

Don't show weakness

In 2018, sociologist Jennifer Berdahl and her colleagues coined the term “Masculinity competition culture“to explain workplaces characterised by cut-throat competition, toxic leadership, bullying and harassment.

Integration of many years previous research On the subject of masculinity within the workplace, Berdahl and her colleagues were in a position to show how cultures of masculinity competition work and the way they affect organizations and individual employees.

In her experiments, she had participants agree or disagree with statements comparable to “Expressing emotions other than anger or pride is considered weak,” based on their perception of their very own organization. Use of advanced statistical techniquesBerdahl's team was in a position to distill cultures of masculinity competition right down to 4 components: “show no weakness,” “strength and endurance,” “work first,” and “dog eat dog.”

Then they might show how these cultures are connected Variety of negative results for workers and firms, comparable to Burnout, turnover and poor well-being. And on the organizational level, they’ll fuel a dysfunctional office environment, toxic leadership, and even bullying and harassment.

An imaginary criticism

So based on this research it appears to be promoting rigid masculinity at work might be not the very best solution for you Meta already has problems.

What then led Zuckerberg to assert that the workplace was neutered and needed to be infused with male energy? Is the American office really full?”Legally blonde”?

Zuckerberg's own company isn't exactly a model of parity: the complete workforce, from 2022was almost two-thirds men, while the technical workforce was three-quarters male. Furthermore, in line with psychologists Sapna Cheryan and Hazel Markus, U.S. workplaces still reflect what they call “male specifications“ – Cultures that reward traits or behaviors generally related to men.

This can range from the best way corporations describe themselves – for instance, as places which can be “aggressive” and “uninhibited” – to prepare events which can be traditionally aimed toward male interests, comparable to golf outings.

Although Cheryan and Markus' evaluation focuses on how male standards make it difficult for ladies to pursue their profession paths, they may be harmful to everyone, including men.

For example, my research has shown that men can thrive once they feel pressured to satisfy certain male expectations fragile male identitiesthat are related to aggression and fear.

Although the prevalence of masculinity norms may give men the upper hand within the workplace, I’m wondering if men are contorting themselves to suit into outdated molds that determine who succeeds within the workplace. In fact, Research shows that successful organizations promote a healthy mixture of stereotypical masculine and female qualities.

In other words, it's best when people of all genders feel comfortable sharing characteristics comparable to: Collaboration and talent to actCharacteristics that don’t necessarily belong to at least one gender group.

The rise of the delicate billionaire

If many workplaces still have a culture that eats masculinity and celebrates masculinity – with obviously poor results – you would possibly wonder why billionaire corporate leaders would champion this culture.

The most generous explanation is ignorance. Zuckerberg might simply not know that the majority of the offices within the US still exist They have a competitive environment and characteristics related to traditional masculinity.

Although this may very well be the case, I believe there may very well be two other explanations for Zuckerberg's promotion of rigid masculinity norms.

There may very well be an economic motive. Maybe Zuckerberg thinks that is how he promotes his company an arena stuffed with competition and aggression is the very best method to attract talent and drive innovation in a field already dominated by men. This is usually thought Competition drives innovation. So “Meta needs to be more masculine” could actually be code for “Meta needs to create more internal competition that stimulates innovation and generates profits.” This assumption can be improper: recent research has shown that internal competition can actually stifle innovation.

There is also a psychological motive. I've present in my research that men are probably to carry on to ideas of rigid masculinity once they feel They are under pressure to “man up” and are insecure about yourself.

Perhaps Zuckerberg sees diversity efforts as a challenge to his power. Maybe he thinks align yourself President Donald Trump's version of masculinity will help him gain and retain power, especially within the face of challenges from other tech giants. So his promotion of an aggressive workplace, along together with his cutting of the policies that would do this Make him look “weak.”“are steps to strengthen his status as a frontrunner, as an innovator and as a person.

This isn't to say that activities like hunting and mixed martial arts are inherently bad and even inherently masculine: there are many them female hunters and UFC fighters. Nor does it mean that certain male traits are inherently bad within the workplace.

But once I see middle-aged billionaires – Zuckerberg is just not the just one – They show the signs of fragile masculinity that I even have observed in them young adult men And Adolescent boysI can't help but wonder what the long run holds for the country.