Mark Zuckerberg Says Companies Need More ‘Masculine Energy’

Recent comments by Mark Zuckerberg on the Joe Rogan podcast have renewed arguments about gender dynamics in the workplace. The Meta CEO lamented the cultural neutering of the corporate world and called for the reintroduction of ‘masculine energy’—aggression. Zuckerberg says masculinity is a virtue in corporate culture, but experts say that kind of rhetoric could alienate women and other marginalized voices.

Such narratives could set the tech industry back further, with gender disparities already a challenge for the industry: women make up only 35% of its workforce and hold 11% of executive roles. Gender studies professor Juliet A. Williams calls Zuckerberg’s use of the term ‘neutered’ a ‘gendered dog whistle’ that reinforces patriarchal norms. Framing inclusivity as a threat to masculinity is a problem, critics say, because it undermines diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Economics professor Susan L. Averett warns that workplaces that adopt traditionally masculine norms put women in danger of being marginalized in their unique communication styles and make professional settings inhospitable. She notes that this cultural shift could further fuel the exodus of women from male-dominated fields such as STEM.

It comes amid broader societal trends, including the revival of “bro culture” and a backlash against progressive activism. Strategy professor Justin Frake warns that embracing masculine norms means you risk creating environments that are hostile to people who don’t conform, which lowers morale and stifles collaboration.

While Meta has increased its female workforce by 100 percent between 2019 and 2022, Zuckerberg’s comments point to a pivot that could reverse those gains. This rhetoric, critics say, plays into the backlash culture that has helped fuel political movements such as Donald Trump’s, focused on traditional masculinity.

In the end, advocating for “masculine energy” perpetuates exclusionary practices and undoes decades of work to achieve gender equity. Corporate leaders face a choice: we can build workplaces where everyone can thrive or regress into cultures that marginalize diverse voices.

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