The ManKind Project
Image Credit: (Rex Features) The Independent
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As I stood next to a man roaring with rage and wet with tears, in a community hall in deep west London, I thought – well, this is awkward. I don’t even like man-hugs, particularly those three-pat buddy jobs they do in Hollywood. Yet here was a real live male in distress, perilously close. Should I hug him, against the advice of my inner Brit?
Luckily, I didn’t need to decide. With the help of a convener, the man finally exhaled and came back “into the room”, to use the argot. And such a cathartic experience could have been anticipated, for I was participating in a meeting of the ManKind Project (MKP), known for their emotionally lacerating (and controversial) meetings.
They’re anonymous, and I promised not to disclose names and people as a condition of attendance, but a long-time member of MKP, 41-year-old cameraman Dan Kidner, explained his reasons for participating.
“The powerful element is being with other men who are sharing their feelings at such a deep level,” he says. “Before I experienced that, I thought it was only me who wasn’t coping and that everyone else was fine. It was a huge relief to realise that there was a community of men who are able to share their vulnerability.”
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