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Exploring 'Mankeeping': Emotional Labor in Men's Relationships

7/29/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In Brooklyn, social worker Justin Lioi sheds light on the emotional reliance of many straight men on their partners, a dynamic known as “mankeeping.” This term, introduced by Angelica Puzio Ferrara, captures the often unseen emotional labor women undertake to nurture their partners' social and emotional well-being, though not every relationship reflects this pattern.

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Story summary

In Brooklyn, social worker Justin Lioi sheds light on the emotional reliance of many straight men on their partners, a dynamic known as “mankeeping.” This term, introduced by Angelica Puzio Ferrara, captures the often unseen emotional labor women undertake to nurture their partners' social and emotional well-being, though not every relationship reflects this pattern.