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I used to be afraid of openly talking about gender and masculinity. Like many men, I had internalised the stigma that even discussing these topics was somehow unmasculine. I had learned, through my cultural, social and institutional surroundings, that to be a man meant performing masculinity in a particular way, and to question or reflect on that performance was to risk losing it.

That changed when I chose masculinity as the focus of my PhD research. What initially felt like a risky or even subversive topic soon became a powerful lens through which to understand health practices and broader social issues. Studying masculinity, especially in cross-cultural settings, helped me unpack the very ideas I had been taught to internalise. Slowly, I began to deconstruct the rigid expectations around masculinity and allowed myself the freedom to explore and express it more openly and authentically.

After completing my PhD in Australia, which included over a year of fieldwork in Uzbekistan exploring Uzbek masculinities, I joined LSHTM. This transition offered me the opportunity to collaborate on global research projects across Europe, Africa and Latin America. These experiences enriched my understanding of the diverse ways masculinity and gender are lived, expressed and contested in different parts of the world.

One small but revealing example is the cultural meaning attached to men wearing earrings. In China, wearing an earring on the left ear is often associated with being gay. In Türkiye, it is the right ear. In Uzbekistan, any form of earring-wearing among men is stigmatised. Yet, in traditional Ethiopian culture, a man’s earring once symbolised courage and heroism. These seemingly minor cultural signifiers reveal the deeply contextual nature of masculinity, and being at LSHTM has given me the privilege to explore these nuances more fully, particularly in relation to mental and sexual health.

Beyond the global research opportunities, what has stood out to me at LSHTM is the inclusive and respectful environment created by students, colleagues and collaborators. 

I have found that diversity here is not only acknowledged but valued, across cultures, races, genders and sexualities. This inclusivity creates a space where different ways of being can coexist. Whether someone is out, in the closet, or still negotiating their identity, they are afforded the time and space they need. That sense of safety and openness is vital.

Yet, even in relatively progressive spaces, there is a risk of thinking that openness makes conversations about gender or masculinity unnecessary. In fact, it is precisely because these topics have become so politicised and polarised globally that we need to keep talking about them. We have witnessed the rise of right-wing movements across the world that have sought to dismantle hard-won rights for women, queer and trans people. Funding for gender studies has been slashed, departments closed, and trans rights are under increasing attack, including here in the UK. Homosexuality remains criminalised in many countries. In this climate, it is clear that the politics of gender are inseparable from broader struggles for justice and equality.

That is why Pride Month matters, not just as a celebration, but as a reminder of what is at stake and the work still ahead. At LSHTM, I am grateful to be part of a community that embraces these conversations and continues to make space for critical reflection, solidarity and transformation.

• Learn more about LGBTQ+ equality at LSHTM