Let us remember that for many years, women were denied many of the same opportunities as men. Around the 1850s, women were barred from participating in sports, voting, obtaining an education, signing legal documents, and other activities.

Women have made enormous advances in leadership, law, politics, research, medicine, sports, gender-equality initiatives, and many other fields. However, as a male writer, I would be remiss if I did not discuss how women are still at the intersection of misogyny and toxic masculinity in 2023.

What exactly are toxic masculinity and misogyny? Toxic masculinity is an adopted attitude or belief in which men assert power and superiority over others through dominance, control, and even violence. Misogyny is a dislike of or contempt for women or an ingrained prejudice against them.

Toxic masculinity and misogyny are harmful to society because they contribute to the rape culture, violence, and stigma associated with mental health by encouraging and enabling men to ignore and avoid seeking help for their traumas and vulnerabilities well as acting on beliefs such as homophobia and misogyny.

The AMAAD Institute, which stands for Arming Minorities Against Addiction and Disease, takes pride in being an intersectional health and wellness Black and Black LGBTQIA+ prioritization organization that addresses and supports every aspect of one's life. We actively address toxic masculinity and misogyny in five ways through our work.

• Actively address/break the stigmas associated with toxic masculinity and misogyny.

• Combating gender stereotypes.

• Providing a forum for people to express themselves, learn, and heal.

• Ensuring zero-tolerance policies and procedures for toxic masculine or misogynistic behavior.

• Maintaining an ongoing dialogue about boundaries and how they manifest in the workplace

Anthony Singleton

(He/Him/his)

Human Resources & Employment Training Manager

It's that time again folks, Wellness Wednesday! 

Join us IN PERSON on Wednesday, March 8th, from 1-2 pm at 10221 Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90002 Ste 105 for a profound dialogue about women led by Dechelle Richardson. The goal of this group is to better understand the true multidimensionality of womanhood.

Veroman Woods

(He/Him/His)

Prevention Specialist

“You’re invited to a virtual support group for Women of Color. VENT is a Vehicle Everyone Needs To help let go of. Join us on March 26th, 2023, from 11 am-1 pm, as the HIV.E’s Women of Color cohort holds space with you. Here you can release energetic and emotional trauma related to being infected or affected by HIV. A raffle and other resources will be provided at the end of the session.”

Dechelle Richardson

(She/Her/Hers)

Community Engagement & Training Coordinator

Temperature Control

Emotions are a lot like the weather in that they can change at a moment’s notice. Let’s use two examples of the weather, sunshine, and rain. When emotions are like sunshine, the temperature is hot or sunny, we are happy and joyful, and everything seems right in the world. When emotions are like rain, the temperature is cool or cold and gloomy, we are sad, feeling down and it seems nothing is right with the world. The major difference between weather and emotions in control. 

We can not control the weather, BUT we can control the temperature of our emotions. You have the power to dictate how you feel from moment to moment. The only person or thing you can control is You. You have the power to dictate how you are going to feel regardless of the weather.

Controlling your emotions means more sunny days!

Lea Collins

(She/Her/Hers)

Behavioural Health Counselor Therapist