A Talk With Authors Chris Baron & Torrey Maldonado About Countering Toxic Masculinity in MGlit!

In this interview I speak with Chris Baron and Torrey Maldonado, two award-winning middle-grade writers and two incredible people with big hearts. Their stories are heartwarming, engaging, but most wonderfully of all, they break societal norms! Their stories show readers the harsh realities that come with from toxic masculinity & they discuss how to combat harmful "stereotypical" masculine behaviors with positivity, empathy and healthy communication. Torrey and Chris craft strong, carrying, and confident young men who fill the pages of their stories with light, love, and compassion. Torrey and Chris are great author friends of mine, and I'm so grateful we could come together to use our platforms to spread information, positivity to those who need it most! Watch our talk and be enlightened and educated on the power of positive male role models in stories! "Toxic masculinity" in middle-grade books refers to the portrayal of exaggerated, harmful masculine traits in young male characters, often including behaviors like excessive aggression, emotional suppression, a refusal to show vulnerability, and a strong emphasis on dominance, which can be damaging to their mental health and relationships with others; these books can either depict these behaviors critically, showing the negative consequences, or inadvertently reinforce them through stereotypical character portrayals. Thanks so much for watching my interview with authors Torrey Maldonado, If you enjoyed our talk, please click LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my channel! E Train Talks, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inspiring a love of reading & helping end book deserts in underserved communities. Find out more about my journey at www.etraintalks.com