sharing

The 'sharing' archive contains numerous personal interviews and texts with various people about their views and experiences about masculinities. In the interviews, people are asked about their personal experience with masculinity: from their youth, to role models, to their own self-exploration into masculinities.

They are asked for an object that symbolizes masculinities for them. Work is being done to recontexualize and revisualize masculinities in new symbols that move away from
stereotypes but seek authentic
symbolization of personal
experiences.

If I had to describe what is male or female, I end up with stereotypes. In general, I think that feminine characteristics are more normal, everyone is caring for example, and masculine qualities are more perceived as important, such as being autonomous. I am very interested in the equality between genders, that qualities are human and not linked to gender. But I am also a feminist, and I am concerned that feminine qualities are considered less important.
I think my ideas about this come from the way I grew up in which I had no clear gender roles. I grew up with a father who fully transitioned to becoming a woman when I was 1 year old. This immediately gave me a non-normative perspective on what gender is.
My mother always wore a wig. The wig simultaneously symbolizes hiding and expressing your gender. For me it does not necessarily represent masculinity or femininity, but the transformation of gender.

men are tough, hard and strong, but today? Do these classic values still apply? Every generation changes what we think of gender. In my youth I developed an aversion to masculinity. I grew up in Bosnia. There was a huge difference between men and women and their roles. I also have affection for that difference and my youth, but the freedom I experience as a woman in the Netherlands also suits me well.
In the Working Mums series, you see women who we tend to see as masculine: ambitious, powerful. That's how I am and that's how I see myself. I like to be autonomous. As a symbol that reflects my masculinity, I choose tools: I can do it myself.

I am a man and, as society sees it, my profession is feminine. I work in healthcare. When I think of masculinity, I think of my black shoes that I wear to work. I am a very caring and empathetic person. I don't actually think these are male or female characteristics, but that is how society sees them. At the same time, I also think, why does the woke movement make gender so complicated? Isn't there a distinction?

Masculinity came to me when I started exploring who I was attracted to, and when I discovered that I was attracted to women, I also developed masculinity. I think it's nice that there is a distinction, but at the same time I also think stereotypes are a shame.
When I was a little boy, my example of manhood was my father, who is now 83. He reminds me of Al Bundy. He was a masculine, dominant man and I'm glad I have much more feminine qualities.

Everyone discovers their identity and sexuality in high school, but you are challenged when your gender or sexual preference is not the status quo. You get confused and frustrated, because your authentic emotions about love, gender and sex get troubled by stereotypes. I felt strongly the pressure of masculine and heteronormative norms in the signs, symbols, stereotypes in language, media and everyday objects. the languages and pictures in school books, normative behavior of teachers, social media, the lack of role models, peer pressure, bullying, the intense distinction between what is masculine and feminine in everyday products, behavior, appearance and use of language. I felt alienated and discomforted from reality, because my feelings and needs were real, but did not resonte in reality.
I choose as my symbol two kissing men. As a stement to show that two men being intimate can be masculine and being gay too. Sex and gender is connected, but something else.