Shanjif
Q: Would you agree that a 'soft' or more feminised masculinity would make masculinity weaker
"Nope, I think that it's good to embrace both sides. Can you imagine being a single father you can't be a hardass to your kid also right? You have to also compensate for being a mum, so you gotta show some compassion to your kid if you want them to grow up properly. So I think it's fine to combine both, it's not weakness."
Q: Would you agree that you have traits that would be associated with being feminine?
"I think I'm very compassionate and I emphasise a lot. I don't brush others people's feelings off and don't invalid them. Because some people would shove it off and focus on something else but certain things you really need to talk about and I'm very open to that."
-Shanjif
Shanjif
Age: 1995/ 27 this year
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Male
Pronouns: He/Him
Sexuality: Straight
Shanjif is a 27-year-old who works in the oil and gas industry in the electrical line. Though his job requires odd working hours including weekends, he still manages to find the discipline and strength to wake up early in the morning to carry out his workout routine. He mentions working out helps him find peace and is good for his mental health, rather than for a reason of keeping in shape or appearing more masculine.
Masculinity to Shanjif is someone who is courageous, has physical and mental strength, and has grit. Though from an outsider's perspective it seems like Shanjif fulfils his requirements of being masculine, he disagrees that he fits into it, citing lacking courage and the mental strength to fit into his view of the term. Despite this, he feels that that is fine because it is normal for people to be different.
