Elliot Page on Redefining Healthy Masculinity

Transgender actor Elliot Page spoke about “healthy masculinity” and described it as moving away from emotional detachment. During an appearance on the podcast “It’s Open with Ilana Glazer,” the 39-year-old actor discussed the concept as part of his public and personal journey with gender.

Page explained that healthy masculinity involves resisting the societal expectation to shut down emotionally. He shared, “Healthy masculinity, to me, is or even just something I’ve felt as, like, transitioning, is like leaning away from whenever there is some sort of impulse or expectation you’ve put on yourself to, like, shut down.”

Since coming out as transgender in 2020, Page has noticed changes in how he presents himself. He commented on being more open in photos, previously finding it difficult to smile or feel comfortable being photographed. Reflecting on interactions with male fans who often avoid smiling in pictures, he questioned if he should also act the same way, highlighting the internal struggle with conforming to societal norms.

Page emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and simple self-care practices as part of healthy masculinity. He noted how crucial it is to avoid being influenced by traditional masculine rules that contribute to “toxic masculinity, violence, and abuse.” He suggested that a “really good cry” is an example of healthy masculinity and encouraged practices like staying hydrated and self-love.

Elliot Page, known for his roles in movies such as “Juno,” “Inception,” and the “X-Men” series, continues to be an advocate for rethinking masculinity norms. Having transitioned in 2020, he uses “he/they” pronouns and remains vocal about gender identity and acceptance.