What does it mean to be a man in 2026? Former student explores Progressive Masculinity in assemblies
10th Mar 2026
Former Holy Cross student Mike Nicholson is speaking to our students about progressive masculinity in this week’s assemblies.
Mike has been invited into college to talk about progressive masculinity, what it truly means to be a man in a way that is healthy, respectful, and supportive of others, guided by our Catholic belief in the dignity of every person.
Mike is interested in how male students’ understanding of masculinity was pivotal in their attitudes and behaviours.
Researching, developing, and piloting an early version of the Progressive Masculinity Programme allowed him to see how so many of our men put on a performance and a mask of what they think it means to be ‘a man’ gleaned from films, games, social media, etc.
The refined version of the Progressive Masculinity Programme is Mike’s effort to give men the freedom and confidence to remove this mask and, through open dialogue and practical activities, reconstruct a healthier and more open-minded understanding of what it can mean to be ‘a man’.
The programme provides safe, non-judgemental spaces to explore masculine identities through an aspirational lens and celebrate our potential as men.
Thank you to Mike for exploring this incredibly important topic with our students, and welcome back to Holy Cross.
Click here to find out more about the Progressive Masculinity Programme.