Raġel fuq l-irġiel Beyond Stereotypes: Masculinities and Mental Wellbeing

On 19 November, the University of Malta Equity Office marked International Men’s Day with the second edition of Raġel fuq l-Irġiel, an initiative that explores masculinities through an intersectional and interdisciplinary lens. This year, the focus was on men’s mental wellbeing. 

Opening the event, Ms Nadia Abdilla, Equity Coordinator at the UM’s Equity Office, reflected on the initiative’s growth, noting that “the response to our first edition was overwhelmingly positive. The audience asked for more - more conversation, more openness, more perspectives, and spaces where these themes could be explored safely and thoughtfully. That feedback filled us with enthusiasm and, above all, with hope: hope for change, for deeper dialogue, and for greater awareness of masculinities in today’s society.”

Speakers discussed how shifting social expectations have created new pressures for men, who are navigating the complex space between traditional masculine ideals and evolving norms that encourage emotional openness, balance, and healthy self-expression.

Contributors included Mr Yaser Teebi, Ms Amanda Dalli, Mr Andrew Barberi, Mr Oliver Scicluna, Dr Angele Deguara, Prof. Angela Abela, Prof. Ivan Sammut, and Dr Claire Casha, each bringing a unique perspective on supporting men’s mental well-being in contemporary Malta. They explored how changing gender roles have placed new pressures on men, who must navigate traditional masculine expectations alongside emerging norms that encourage emotional expression, vulnerability, and work-life balance. Some rapidly increasing virtual subcultures, such as the manosphere, intensify these pressures by promoting misogyny and harmful masculine stereotypes.

The seminar also highlighted how masculinity intersects with diverse identities (including disability, ethnicity, non-binary identities, and living with HIV) further complicating men’s experiences. Men with a disability, men who have sex with men and HIV-positive and migrant men often face layered marginalisation, often face compounded challenges, encountering social stigma, systemic barriers, and increased vulnerability to mental health concerns. Additionally a recorded video conversation was also shared with the audience featuring researchers Alessia Emily Bonavia and Jean Paul Borg from the Department of Maltese at the University of Malta. They discussed the topic of fatherhood and masculinity in contemporary Maltese literature and theatre.  

The Raġel fuq l-Irġiel Committee sought to diversify the programme and include an artistic contribution. The challenge is never where to find artists or whom to invite, but rather where to stop and focus - there is always so much more the Committee wishes to include in this area. This year’s edition focused on cultural reflections on masculinity which were presented through Maltese literary works. The artist and author Ryan Falzon read excerpts from his publication ‘Sajf’ while Dr Omar N’Shea read excerpts from the artist Romeo Roxman Gatt’s published work ‘Qarn’. The event also featured a performance by Mr Roderick Vassallo and Mr Malcolm Bonello. The song, written by Mr Vassallo himself is a creative adaptation of a passage from the Holy Scriptures, reimagined as a conversation between two male lovers.

Prof. Carmen Sammut, Pro Rector for Students and Staff Affairs and Outreach shared her concluding reflections, stating how, “Collectively, the presentations in this seminar highlight a common thread

…masculinities are neither monolithic nor static but exist at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. Cultural productions in literature and theatre present an ambivalent mirror of masculinity in Malta: they simultaneously reflect ongoing realities and at times may lag behind societal changes, underscoring the need for more dynamic cultural introspection and engagement with men’s lived experiences.”

Several speakers were invited to talk about masculinities on TV, highlighting how men's wellbeing is gaining broader public attention.