Key Takeaways
- Toxic masculinity refers to the cultural norms associated with traditional masculinity, such as aggression and dominance.
- Such expectations are harmful and restrictive, limiting individuals and harming others as well as society.
- Unlearning these attitudes often involves seeking healthier role models, developing greater emotional awareness, and finding healthier ways to manage negative feelings.
Toxic masculinity refers to unhealthy and often traditional characteristics or attributes associated with men. This includes being unemotional, power-hungry, narcissistic, and violent. Unfortunately, men are frequently defined by these outdated and unfounded stereotypes, creating an unhealthy and unrealistic definition of what it means to be a man in today’s society.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 believe them falsely or to try to measure up to them, ultimately harming themselves and others in the process.
Traditional Gender Roles and Toxic Masculinity
“Manhood” and “womanhood” come with many expectations in the United States. Society often values kindness, compassion, and care more in women than in men. Pew Research Center data shows that we commonly link men to being protective, but not emotional.
This doesn’t mean men lack care, compassion, or emotion, but societal undervaluation can make men feel those traits aren’t important.
Ron Blake, Social Justice Activist, Public Speaker
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.
— Ron Blake, Social Justice Activist, Public Speaker
“Fragile masculinity” refers to the unrealistic cultural standards placed on men, leading them to overcompensate or act a certain way to meet traditional norms. Everyone, regardless of gender, exhibits a mix 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.
Rather than defining boys or men as “good” or “bad,” or “tough” or “weak,” it’s important to recognize that men, like women, have many facets that extend far beyond the traditional expectations of their gender.
Traditional societal views of masculinity harm every member of society, but studies show they have a greater impact on the self-image, relationships, and overall mental health of gay men.
Our society needs to remember that being a man doesn’t mean you have to like sports or women. Being a strong man doesn’t mean you can’t show weakness or cry. Being a successful man doesn’t mean you have to marry or become a C-suite executive. Sexual preferences and gender identities, just like career choices and lifestyle choices, don’t make you any less of a man.
“The truth is being a man can mean whatever you want it to mean,” says Britt East, author of A Gay Man’s Guide to Life. “You get to decide.”
The Harmful Effects of Toxic Masculinity
When men prevent themselves from being vulnerable, act on homophobic beliefs, ignore personal traumas, or display negative behaviors toward women, this can contribute to broader societal issues. Effects of toxic masculinity can include:
- Domestic abuse
- Gender-based violence
- Gun violence
- Homophobia
- Misogyny
- Rape culture
- Sexual assault
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,” East writes.
Men are perceived as more violent than women, and as evidenced by the crime rates, they are. Most criminal offenses are committed by men, and most crimes (with the exception of sexual assault) are committed against men.
Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence
While men are often the perpetrators of sexual assault, it’s important to remember that many men in this country have also been victims. Male violence is an issue, but so is male victimization. Statistics show that 5% to 10% of girls experience penetrative sexual abuse, and about 5% of boys are also subjected to it, though 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.
“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.”
Inability to Express Vulnerability
Unfortunately, many men aren’t taught how to be vulnerable, how to overcome trauma, or how to embrace every aspect of themselves. Take Aaron Hernandez, for instance, who battled numerous traumas in his childhood and ultimately grew up to become a professional football player and larger-than-life man. He ended up in prison, was convicted of murder, and ultimately committed suicide.
“He had been asking for help for so long on so many occasions,” says Blake. “I feel like part of my role in life is to help the world know Aaron was a good guy. We all failed him in life.”
Society often pressures 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.
Why Toxic Masculinity Is Also a Health Issue
The mental health effects of toxic masculinity can include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Higher risk for suicide
- Increased loneliness
- Increased risky behavior
- Increased substance and alcohol use
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 are more reluctant to seek help, especially regarding 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 isn’t just beneficial, it’s necessary for the betterment of our society.
“Most men are simply in survival mode,” says Dan Doty, co-founder of EVRYMAN.
How to Push Back Against Toxic Masculinity
When Michael Kimmel, the founder and director of the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities at Stony Brook University, asked his students what it means to be a “real man,” he received answers like “authoritative” and “suppressing any kind of weakness.”
BIPOC Boys and Men
Traditionally, boys are taught to “act like men,” and in many cases, treated like men, which can greatly impact their understanding of themselves and their place in the world.
For Black boys, in particular, the expectations and misconceptions can be dangerous. Studies have shown that Black children are seen as less “childlike” than white children and are often perceived as being older than they are.
Exilus points out that minority men, in particular, have to do a lot more work every day. They need space, time to rest, and the opportunity to share and/or express their anger. Whether you join group therapy, individual therapy, or visit an organization like Black Men Heal, the goal is to better understand yourself and your emotions and prioritize your mental well-being.
Press Play for Advice on Undefining Masculinity
This episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares the value of undefining what it means to be a man, featuring author and actor Justin Baldoni. Click below to listen now.
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Boys Should Learn That Emotions Are Healthy
When we treat boys as men and teach them to be emotionless, tough, and secure, we strip them of their innocence and we place unrealistic and unhealthy expectations on them.
“We need to teach young men from an early age that it’s good to express emotions,” says Exilus. In both our education system and at home, we need to help boys and men label their feelings and understand them. By approaching this in a non-judgmental, curious way, we can eliminate the fears surrounding therapy and mental health.
“Boys and young men are, by nature, in great need of guidance,” says Doty.
“We need men to be role models for the new generation. It all starts with teaching boys to not be men, but to be humans,” says Blake. “This should not be a gender issue. Once we make this a human issue, toxic masculinity will fade.”
Boys Must Be Taught How to Deal With Negative Feelings
“Anger is judged upon. Bottling it up doesn’t do anything,” says Exilus. We need to offer men ways to deal with that anger.
Exilus recommends focusing on five sensations and counting down if you’re feeling angry or frustrated. Focus on five things you can hear, four things you can see, three things you can smell, two things you can touch, and one thing you can taste.
Mack Exilus, MA, EDM, MHC-LP
This gets you out of your head, into your body, and tuned into your environment. Sit with the breath and be wherever you are without having to drain yourself of energy. You can also take a nap, go for a run, drink some tea, or splash cold water on your face.
— Mack Exilus, MA, EDM, MHC-LP
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.
