Toxic masculinity involves cultural pressures for men to behave in a certain way.
This idea that men need to act tough and avoid showing all emotions can be harmful to their mental health and can have serious consequences for society, which is how it became known as “toxic masculinity.”
It's also an important point to remember that Masculinity isn't toxic. It's men who aren't masculine who are toxic. Weak little men use and abuse women instead of stepping up to lead and protect them.
Our society is suffering from a shortage of real Masculinity and it brings great harm to women and children who have no protectors.
All of us have to recognize that being a man is first and foremost being a good human. That means being responsible, working hard, being kind, respectful, compassionate. If you're confident about your strength, you don't need to show them by putting somebody else down. Show them by lifting somebody else up.
Dangerous Effects Of Toxic Masculinity
Toxic Masculinity is a concept used to define unhealthy and often traditional characteristics or attributes associated with men. From being unemotional and power-hungry to narcissistic and violent, men are oftentimes defined by these outdated and unfounded stereotypes which create an unhealthy and unrealistic understanding of what it means to be a man in today’s society.
Assuming men should be protectors, breadwinners, or leaders, or associating men with anger, selfishness, and aggression can be problematic and damaging.
When those beliefs are based on unproven biases that we, as both individuals and a society, perpetuate, boys and men are taught to falsely believe them or to try to measure up to them, ultimately harming themselves and others in the process.
Manhood And Womanhood
In many ways, “manhood,” like “womanhood,” comes with many expectations in the United States. As a society, we value kindness, compassion, and care in women more than we do in men. We also positively associate men with being protective and negatively associate men with being emotional, according to the Pew Research Center.1
This does not mean that men aren’t caring, compassionate, or emotional, but we, as a society, don’t value these traits in men and that can lead men to believe these traits aren’t valuable.
Men tend to keep so much bottled up inside. This includes all the traumas and heart-breaking moments. Eventually, there has to be a release. And too often that is in an explosive way.
Fragile masculinity, a term referring to the unrealistic cultural standards placed on men, exists because many men feel they have to overcompensate or act in a certain way to meet these traditional standards, but we are all human. As human beings, regardless of gender, we have a combination of masculine and feminine traits.
While feminism has pushed America to redefine and reconsider the role of girls and women, it has also raised questions about boys and men, and what their role is in society.
Effects of toxic masculinity
When men actively avoid vulnerability, act on homophobic beliefs, ignore personal traumas, or exhibit prejudiced behaviors against women, this contributes to many larger societal problems, such as gender-based violence, sexual assault, and gun violence.
Violence and Aggression
“Masculinity becomes fragile through its rigidity. When it cannot afford to hold the panoply of gender expressions, sexual cultural orientations, or feminine strength intrinsic to any pluralistic society, then it must lash out, or risk crumbling under the weight of its own culturally-constituted expectations,” says East.
“Whatever the cause, the response is [almost] always a form of violence…Sometimes this violence is outwardly expressed through physical dominance or aggression. Other times it is inwardly expressed, through depression, addiction, or suicide.”
Men are perceived as more violent than women and as evidenced by the crime rates, they are. Most criminal crimes are committed by men, but also most criminal crimes (with the exception of sexual assault) are committed against men.
Though men are often the perpetrators of sexual assault, we often forget that millions of men in this country have also been victims of sexual assault.
Men are perceived as more violent than women and as evidenced by the crime rates, they are. Most criminal crimes are committed by men, but also most criminal crimes (with the exception of sexual assault) are committed against men.
Though men are often the perpetrators of sexual assault, we often forget that millions of men in this country have also been victims of sexual assault.
Male violence is a problem, but so is male victimization. Statistically, 5-10% of girls are subjected to penetrative sexual abuse, but 5% of boys are also subjected to penetrative sexual abuse and this is rarely discussed.
When men and women are accused of similar crimes, men are more likely to receive longer sentences than women, with women being twice as likely to avoid incarceration upon conviction.4
“Every behavior is connected to a need,” says Mack Exilus, MA, EDM, MHC-LP, a mental health clinician at Citron Hennessey Therapy.
Some men might ‘act out’ some of these behaviors as they strive to be more ‘masculine.’ This can lead to questionable and dangerous behaviors.
Holding space for others to openly discuss their feelings about the issue may help people re-shape their own definitions as well.
Written By - Akshita Sharma
When men and women are accused of similar crimes, men are more likely to receive longer sentences than women, with women being twice as likely to avoid incarceration upon conviction.4
“Every behavior is connected to a need,” says Mack Exilus, MA, EDM, MHC-LP, a mental health clinician at Citron Hennessey Therapy.
“One thing I’ve seen with men with anger issues and violent paths is that these are behaviors that are learned. A lot of times that violence or that anger is a way to protect vulnerability.”
Society often puts pressure on men to “be men” in the traditional sense, rather than simply be human. For men, vulnerability is often neglected, dismissed, or combated. When men push down emotions, ignore feelings, or dismiss their feminine traits, their mental health will suffer.
Mental Health Concerns
As of 2018, significantly more men than women died from an opioid overdose. Men are far more likely to die by suicide than women.
Men, like women, experience anxiety, depression, and mental illness. However, men are more likely than women to underutilize mental health services, and they are more reluctant to seek help, especially when it comes to mental health.
As a country, we often fail to address the many traumas faced by boys and men and we often punish behaviors without addressing the underlying issues that lead to those behaviors.
We need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness and remind men that asking for help, expressing emotions, and seeking therapy aren’t just beneficial, it’s necessary for the betterment of our society.
A Word from verywell
Toxic masculinity is something that still needs to be addressed and the only way to help men learn that emotions don't devalue them or make them weak is by instilling that mindset within them from a young age.
Society often puts pressure on men to “be men” in the traditional sense, rather than simply be human. For men, vulnerability is often neglected, dismissed, or combated. When men push down emotions, ignore feelings, or dismiss their feminine traits, their mental health will suffer.
Mental Health Concerns
As of 2018, significantly more men than women died from an opioid overdose. Men are far more likely to die by suicide than women.
Men, like women, experience anxiety, depression, and mental illness. However, men are more likely than women to underutilize mental health services, and they are more reluctant to seek help, especially when it comes to mental health.
As a country, we often fail to address the many traumas faced by boys and men and we often punish behaviors without addressing the underlying issues that lead to those behaviors.
We need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness and remind men that asking for help, expressing emotions, and seeking therapy aren’t just beneficial, it’s necessary for the betterment of our society.
A Word from verywell
Toxic masculinity is something that still needs to be addressed and the only way to help men learn that emotions don't devalue them or make them weak is by instilling that mindset within them from a young age.
The dangers of toxic masculinity are clear and, as a society, it's important to remember that everyone is human, and finding healthy ways to process emotions is important for all of us, especially men.
Also, if you're struggling with the mental health effects of toxic masculinity or you need someone to express your emotions to, there is no shame in reaching out for help from a mental health professional.
Bottom Line
The definition of toxic masculinity centers on these exaggerated versions of traditional, now archaic masculine traits.
Also, if you're struggling with the mental health effects of toxic masculinity or you need someone to express your emotions to, there is no shame in reaching out for help from a mental health professional.
Bottom Line
The definition of toxic masculinity centers on these exaggerated versions of traditional, now archaic masculine traits.
These ideas around what a man should be forces some people to accept a very narrow view of what it means to be masculine, which can be harmful to those who cannot adhere to these supposed standards.
Some men might ‘act out’ some of these behaviors as they strive to be more ‘masculine.’ This can lead to questionable and dangerous behaviors.
Moving past toxic masculinity begins with redefining what it means to be a man. Each person should aspire to find a healthy definition of their own individuality and work towards achieving it.
Holding space for others to openly discuss their feelings about the issue may help people re-shape their own definitions as well.
Written By - Akshita Sharma
Edited By - Akash Verma
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