Former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen’s podcast touches on being a father as well as being a man. In an upcoming episode that would be released this week, Obama had his thoughts on manhood, specifically touching on what effect pop culture has on masculinity.
In a teaser for the March 22 episode of Obama and Springsteen’s “Renegades: Born in the USA” podcast, the former president talked about how masculinity is encouraged in society. Obama noted that he does not think it has changed much over the years, especially citing his conversations with his daughters Sasha and Malia’s friends. The former president said that pop culture had defined manhood as being good in sports and in sexual conquest.
“I talk to my daughters’ friends about boys growing up, and so much of popular culture tells them that the only clear, defining thing about being a man, being masculine, is you excel in sports and sexual conquest,” said Obama. “And violence, right? Those are the three things and violence. If it’s healthy at least, it subsumed into sports. Later you add to that definition, making money, right? How much money can you make?”
The former president also cited the positive traits of a traditional American man, such as the sense of responsibility and handling business. However, Obama said that there is still more that needs to evolve, touching on the issue of equal pay for women, as well as the Me Too movement and the issue of domestic abuse and violence.
In other related news, in light of the recent attacks against Asian Americans following the shooting at a spa in Atlanta, Georgia, the former president condemned the violence while urging lawmakers to pass gun safety laws. Eight people were killed in the shooting, six of the women were of Asian descent. The police arrested 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, who was involved in the shooting. Long told the police he was suffering from a “sex addiction” and targeted the spa in his effort to get rid of the temptation, according to the officials.
The police arrested Long while he was on his way to Florida, and investigators believe that Long may have been planning to carry out more attacks.