Toxic Masculinity
Talking about harmful narratives or expectations…“toxic masculinity” not only affects females but dramatically impacts the lives of males.
“The identity crisis that can accompany attempting to achieve the masculine ideal can have a host of negative mental and emotional effects. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), males may:
🔹 Display muted emotions.
🔹 Show a lack of empathy.
🔹 Experience aggression that tends to persist over time.
🔹 Engage in abusive behavior toward loved ones.
🔹 Experience higher rates of mental illness diagnosis.
🔹 Receive a misdiagnosis of psychological disorders.
🔹 Avoid seeking professional help.”
Have you heard about The Man Box?
Short for the “Act Like a Man Box” developed by author Paul Kivel, it’s a concept that can help us better understand what we call “toxic masculinity.”
This is the box society has forced upon males, the box they should fit into to be considered “real” men.
In the Man Box, men are expected to be:
Self-sufficient: Real men don’t ask for help, nor do they spend too much time worrying or being emotional.
Tough: Even when nervous, a man should always fight back. If he doesn’t, he’s weak and, therefore, “feminine.”
Physically attractive: but without fussing too much over their clothes, hair or skin.
Providers: They must provide for their family and therefore be free from all household chores.
Heterosexual: A gay man is not a “real man.”
Hypersexual: A real man never says no to sex. Men are “not only entitled to sex but how they get it is unimportant” (The Good Men Project), turning women into sexual conquests.
Aggressive: Men can use violence to get respect if needed, and they have the final say when it comes to family/relationship decisions.
Let’s work towards creating a world free of gender expectations—a world where we can all simply BE HUMANS.
Sources:
@apapsychiatric
Redefining Manhood: How to Promote Healthy Masculinity Among Boys (2019)
@goodmenproject
