Toxic Masculinity

TOXIC MASCULINITY
"Masculinity is not something given to you, but something you gain. And you
gain it by winning small battles with honour". - Norman Mailer
A child is born at birth only with gender identity. As a person gets acquainted with his social
environment, his identity changes according to social beliefs like caste, class, work and
behaviour.
Then, even if he was born with any gender identity the person has to do clothes, thinking,
functioning and behaviour according to his social identity. For example, it is natural for a child
to cry but according to social identity, crying is taboo for men while crying is not taboo for
women. We will find many such examples that force socially male, female and transgender into
a social mould. Similarly, patriarchal thinking forces men to mould themselves into a particular
kind of mould by seeing the temptation of privileges. Men are measured on 'manhood' scales
born of patriarchy. In order to make up with these parameters, men are ready to go to any
extent. From risky actions to violence, topping every scale as if these are other rules for
manhood.
What is the definition of toxic manhood? Toxic masculinity can be thought of as "hyper-
masculinity", with a narrow and oppressive description of masculinity defined by violence, sex,
status, and aggression.
Another word tied to poisonous manhood is "hegemonic manhood." It is defined as a practice

that legitimizes the dominant status of men in society and justifies the subjugation of women
and other marginalized ways of being men.
The Urban Dictionary refers to toxic poisoning as "a social science term that describes narrowly
repressive types of ideas about the male gender role and that defines masculinity as
exaggerated masculine traits." Toxic masculinity may also suggest that men who commit too
much emotional or violent acts are not "real men".
Masculinity vs Toxic Masculinity-

Manhood is not same as toxic poisoning. It is possible to be "masculine" without exhibiting toxic
masculinity characteristics.
What are the characteristics of manhood, and how "non-toxic manhood" look like? Many
believe that "traditional masculinity" includes characteristics such as leadership, the strength of
purpose, security, and what it is right to do despite of its emotional cost. The goal among those
fighting toxic manhood is not to discourage men from pursuing these symptoms. Organizations
like "The Good Men Project" offer the following ideas of what "positive-masculinity" might look
like:
 Men may have no violent or aggressive physical strength.

 While violence is avoided, in some circumstances defending others can still be a brave
goal. At the same time, men should not assume that their role is to protect vulnerable
people or that women are always more vulnerable and helpless than men. We can
think of both sexes as both "protectors" and "nurturers".
 Manhood is not required with sensitivity and empathy. These should be considered
gender-neutral traits. Other gender-neutral traits include compassion, honesty,
discipline, consideration and being protective, strong, rational, and even shrewd.
Beliefs associated with toxic masculinity:
 Violence, sex, status, and aggression define masculinity.

 Men should not be interested in "feminine things" because they make them appear
weak.
 Men should not exhibit "feminine" traits such as emotional vulnerability.
 Real men are strong and do not show emotional signs of shame or weakness.
 Anger and violence are useful ways of resolving conflicts.
 Men are not compatible with single parents / dominant parents in a family.
Where did toxic poisoning come from?

The idea that men have had toxic manhood for a long time. In the past, society was established
to preserve men's privilege in terms of family power, wealth, and political control. Of course,
during the twentieth century, women in the Western world gained more and more freedom - in
principle - equality was achieved not only the persistent concept of poisonous masculinity is
when you consider all the cultural methods that men maintain the status quo.
Sexist comments, inappropriate touching, mild scenes of violence between boys, sexual favours
and so-called male divisions are all examples of toxic masculinity. Of course, some people say
that such activities have been completely abolished. It is said that, as the women's liberation
movement of the 1970s and the recent 'Me Too' movement have shown, they are not only
continuing in the pocket but are still a large part of our culture. All too often, supporters of
toxic masculinity are not rightly punished. They are left unquestioned.
Although keeping in mind some high-profile cases such as Harvey Weinstein, which focus on
male's attitude towards women, toxic masculinity also spreads from men to men. A case like
Kevin Spacey suggests that male poisoning is not something that revolves solely on gender
issues. According to above and other cases, male toxicity has became an important issue, so
brands and institutions have increasingly felt the need to take action to improve their public
image. Whether you like the word or not, the concept behind it is result of deep social change
and the desire for more such changes. It is a word by which we all seems to be surrounded.
How can it affect mental health?
Toxic masculinity can affect the psychological state of a person who doesn't meet these
‘phantom’ claims but feels pressure to do so.
The American Psychological Association note the risks of trying to adhere to those exaggerated
masculine traits. Men and boys forced to hold tight these traits often experience adverse
effects and face problems, such as:
 Depression
 Body image issues
 Poor social function
 Substance abuse
 Stress
Furthermore, as feeling emotional or talking openly about feelings go against these traditional
masculine values, there's the added risk that men experiencing mental state issues won't
search out professional care or maybe speak about their struggles with friends or family.
How to combat archaic gender roles-
Societal pressures, expectations from family and sexual partners, and even expectations of
religious identities are often burdensome to a person seeking out his masculine identity. While
some social, political, or religious groups may provide a collection of guidelines for a healthy
sort of masculinity, it's better for an individual to stick to their own definition, as long as it
doesn't harm themselves or others. A new definition of 'what it means to be male' might
includes overall human experiences, such as:
 Openly experiencing a wide range of emotions

 Interdependence
 Vulnerability
 Cooperation
 Kindness
 Softness
This doesn't mean abandoning all traditionally masculine traits including some traditionally
masculine characteristics, like strength and adventure, may help some people in defining their
own masculinity. However, these traits mustn't conjure a person’s entire definition of
masculinity but form just one small aspect of their own identity.
Importantly, masculinity isn't something society, or any definition can instil in a person, neither
it is something which can be removed. It's up to every individual to define their identity.
Expanding and integrating new concepts into an individual’s definition of masculinity may help
them better understand and accept themselves et al.
Conclusion-
Toxic manhood hurts everyone, whether it is women, men or children. If we look closely, it can
be seen that patriarchy is the real root of such crimes. The masculinity born of patriarchy is not
only putting such thoughts in the minds of the youth but is also promoting them.
How are these standards of masculinity that a man hides his sensitive feelings, love, and
humanity behind violence, hatred, to gain it. After all, why love, kindness, crying and caring for
each other cannot be the parameters of manhood. It is very important that we present
examples of being a sensitive man in homes, schools, offices and streets so that violence and
hatred do not have to be weaponized for the coming generations to achieve manhood
standards. Today we need men who believe in expressions like love, kindness, caring for one
another. Who doesn't need anger and hatred to hide his tears. Only with such men we can
create a beautiful society that is equal, just and dignified.
Reference-
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/toxic-masculinity
https://www.cbpescate.it/journal/959698-toxic-boy-definition

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TOXIC MASCULINITY

Another word tied to poisonous manhood is "hegemonic manhood." It is defined as a practice

Masculinity vs Toxic Masculinity-

 Men may have no violent or aggressive physical strength.

Beliefs associated with toxic masculinity:

 Violence, sex, status, and aggression define masculinity.

Where did toxic poisoning come from?

How can it affect mental health?

How to combat archaic gender roles-

 Openly experiencing a wide range of emotions

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