“Culturally Neutered”? Decoding Mark Zuckerberg’s Take on Masculine Energy

This isn’t about restoring balance; it’s about reasserting dominance.

I started seeing headlines after Mark Zuckerberg’s recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, such as “Zuckerberg says most companies need more ‘masculine energy’” and “Zuckerberg praises benefits of ‘masculine energy,’ laments ‘culturally neutered’ corporate America.”

Now, I don’t usually listen to Joe Rogan. But when a particular episode generates a lot of headlines or online chatter, I make a point of checking it out. Not because I’m deeply invested in what Zuckerberg or Rogan have to say, but because I like to dig into the context and ensure I’m not amplifying a misinterpretation or exaggeration. Think of it as fact-checking, but for my own peace of mind. (Some of us still value fact-checking, even if Zuck doesn’t.)

So, on the drive home from Sydney yesterday, I tuned in. Between the inevitable bro chat about UFC, jiu-jitsu, hunting, and archery (seriously, I almost tapped out), there was the part I was waiting for: the full context behind Zuckerberg’s comments about workplaces being “culturally neutered” and his call for a return to more “masculine energy.”

What Does “Masculine Energy” Even Mean?

I actually find the whole concept of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ energy infuriating. These terms lean heavily on stereotypes rooted in social conditioning rather than biology. Labelling aggression, assertiveness, or competitiveness as ‘masculine energy’ and empathy, collaboration, or nurturing as ‘feminine energy’ oversimplifies human behaviour into rigid binaries that do more harm than good.

It’s one of the reasons I’m wary of terms like ‘toxic masculinity’. While well-intentioned, they often reinforce these same binaries and sidestep the systemic forces that shape our understanding of gendered behaviour. (But that’s a whole other post!)

The bigger issue here is the suggestion that workplaces need a balance of these so-called energies to thrive. Why divide qualities into gendered categories instead of embracing a full spectrum of traits in everyone? The idea that workplaces lack something vital when ‘masculine energy’ is diluted misunderstands what truly drives success in the modern workplace.

In fact, fostering diversity at all levels of leadership enhances performance. Companies with women in key management roles experience significant financial benefits, including a 6.6% increase in market value with just a 10-percentage-point rise in female representation.¹ Is that “masculine energy” missing, or is diversity creating a more innovative and sustainable culture?

“Culturally Neutered” – What Is He Really Saying?

One of Zuckerberg’s standout comments was:

“I think a lot of the corporate world is pretty culturally neutered. Masculine energy is good, and obviously, society has plenty of that, but I think corporate culture was really trying to get away from it. I think having a culture that celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive. It’s one thing to say we want to be kind of, like, welcoming and make a good environment for everyone, and I think it’s another to basically say that ‘masculinity is bad.’”

The phrasing “culturally neutered” struck me as odd—but also incredibly revealing. To “neuter” something is to strip it of power or defining traits. The subtext here is clear: