VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY VOICESOF THE NEW MASCULINITY
VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY
VOICES OF THE NEW MASCULINITY
Rapper Killer Mike and his wife,
Shana Render, are more than
just Atlanta hip-hop royalty: They’re
a modern-day black superhero duo.
Their weapon of choice to fight the white
patriarchy? Traditional values mixed
with progressive implementation—a recipe
that Mike has used for years in his music
and his activism, where his ideas often defy
easy categorization. (He’s a vocal supporter
of Bernie Sanders, for instance, but also
a staunch gun-rights advocate.) We met the
couple at their Batcave, the Blue Flame
Lounge, one of Atlanta’s iconic strip clubs,
to learn how they think about modern
gender roles—and how they’ve built the
kind of relationship we can all aspire to.
GQ: How would you describe the sort of
partnership you’ve created?
KILLER MIKE: This is Desi Arnaz and
Lucille Ball. Two people who are sharp and
together. Mobbing. I open the car door,
and usually she cooks. That’s more to do
with the fact that she’s a much better cook
than I am. But she’s my partner in every
aspect of the word.
When it comes to your businesses—your
real estate holdings, your barbershops—
who is responsible for what?
SHANA RENDER: Mike is the face of
the place, but I’m the business of the
businesses. I make financial decisions.
Any problems at the shop, I know about
them first.
KILLER MIKE: Shana has a masterful
business mind. Much better than mine. It’s
my wife who was smart enough to make
these investments.
What’s the next investment?
RENDER: I want to open up a hotel.
Hopefully, Georgia will legalize marijuana
soon so we can have a smoke room in it.
Why do you spend so much time at the
Blue Flame?
KILLER MIKE: The black strip club is the
$25 Soho House. The connections are just
as deep.
RENDER: A lot of the dancers are like,
“What should I do with this $10K I have
saved?” We give them advice on moves they
should make.
KILLER MIKE: Catering, massage
companies, real estate...
RENDER: Sometimes Mike jokes, “I’m
the mastermind behind this shit!” But
I quickly remind him that I’m the master
behind that mind.
Percentage of men who’ve heard the term “toxic masculinity.”
Ages 16 to 34: 52% Ages 35 to 64: 31% Of those who’ve heard
the term, 8% say they’ve
exhibited it.
“Men should take on just
as much responsibility
in raising children as
women do.”
AGREE
79% of men. 88% of women.
“Men
have more
advantages
at work.”
56% 77%
of men agree. of women agree.
Which of the
following words do
you associate with
“masculinity”?
74%
81%
Strong
M W
100%
0%
Tough
62%
69%
M W
100%
0%
How do men want to be
described by their
friends?
HONEST
71%
GENTLE
34%
DOMINANT
13%
RESPECTFUL
73%
STRONG
48%
MACHO
8%
MUSCULAR
19%
37% of men
say they’re
uncomfortable
crying at
weddings.
50% of men are
uncomfortable
seeing two men
kiss.
19% of men
identify as
feminists.
42% of men
and women say
they haven’t
talked about
“masculinity.”
43 %
of men have bought
tampons for a female
friend or partner.
The State of
Masculinity Now:
A GQ Survey
To find out how perceptions and
behaviors are shifting, we polled
1,005 Americans who identify as male,
female, or gender nonbinary, asking
them some pretty wide-ranging questions
about what they see and how they feel.
Of those who’ve heard the term “toxic masculinity,” percentage of
respondents who say they’ve witnessed it in the workplace.
Men Women
26% 37%
NOVEMBER 2019 GQ.COM 107
DRESS: BALMAIN. STYLIST: MARTY MC’FRESH. HAIR: SHARDAYVIA SMITH. MAKEUP: CHERIE COOK.
