It may seem odd, but members of the Men’s Therapeutic Cuddle Group say the practice has helped them cope with everything from childhood sexual abuse to the loss of family members when they were young.
https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/health/men-cuddling-group-aims-redefine-masculinity-and-heal-trauma/3szHGnm7GEvJcTqhrace5N/?fbclid=IwAR0bizw3jeSE9NsFm30R3dUBchjGK4i0MjSVnsz_Duz6gdgS8SkjufrZyPg
The two-year-old group draws men from various backgrounds: a 37-year-old Mormon who works as an airport gate agent, a 57-year-old married father of three, a 62-year-old retiree. There is a range of sexual orientations.
At a time when traditional ideas of manhood are facing scrutiny and such terms as toxic masculinity are becoming more widely known through the #MeToo movement, the group aims to provide new ways for men to express themselves.
“So often, we’re taught that to be an emotional stoic is the mark of manhood,” said Scott Turner, a 46-year-old interior designer and cofounder of the group. “If you show any emotional weakness or vulnerability, that’s a failure to your title of a man.”
2019-04-01