Jaimin Bai

Unpacking patriarchal self-help

By: Yildiz Subuk, Staff Writer The self-help industry, meaning books, media, and services geared towards personal growth and improvement, has grown to become a billion-dollar industry — in 2022, the self-help genre accounted for 17% of non-fiction book purchases in Canada. Among these books is something I call “patriarchal self-help.” Under patriarchy, men seek power and are convinced that their value is determined by how much power they have, or how well they can fit traditional notions of masculinity. A glaring problem arises in this culture; men feeling shame for, and never truly understanding, their own emotional needs. It leads…

Continue reading