What is toxic masculinity? Find out the differences between toxic and healthy masculinity, its social impacts, and what you can do to make a difference.
greenhillrecovery.com
Toxic masculinity appears in many different forms. A few examples include telling boys to “man up” when they feel upset or justifying abusive and inappropriate behavior with the phrase “boys will be boys.” Toxic masculinity can be defined as “the need to aggressively compete and dominate others and encompasses the most problematic proclivities in men. These same male proclivities foster resistance to psychotherapy.”
Traits of toxic or unhealthy masculinity can include:
- Unconditional physical toughness
- Physical aggression, fear of emotions
- Discrimination against people that aren't heterosexual
- Hyper independence
- Sexual aggression or violence
- Anti-feminist behavior
Add to that bullying, objectifying women and for white men with extreme versions of this trait, racism,
Many people who identify as male can feel pressure to embody traits of toxic masculinity, which can lead them to act aggressively or violently towards others and themselves.1
As with all psychology models for behavior there is a spectrum from practically none to hyper aggressive toxic masculinity. It's not unknown in other Western countries everybody has their share. The difference is, every god damned one of the most extremely toxic men in the US own an arsenal.
Guns mixed with roid rage That's what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about being athletes who are super competitive is sports. I'm talking about average joes who are assholes and feel like its their right to put their asshole in other people's faces. And come out shooting when people object.