Toxic masculinity is often associated with cultural pressure for men to behave in a certain way. It’s often linked to gender stereotypes, it’s likely to affect all boys and men in some sort of way. Toxic Masculinity refers to the notion that someone people’s mentality of “manliness” perpetuates domination, homophobia, anti-feminism aggression, and sometimes linking’s to racist and ableist viewings.

 

There are many examples of Toxic masculinity for example using or threatening violence, controlling others, acting aggressively, suppressing emotions, trying to appear ‘tough,’ treating sex as a competition, feeling entitled to have sex from others, using power over women, ‘weaker’ men, and marginalized groups, not empathetic and entitlement these examples are considered by the majority toxic.

 

The term toxic masculinity stems from the mythopoetic men’s movement in the 1980s.

This movement, founded by men for men, aimed to provide men with an outlet for their ‘manliness.’

 

The causes for this can shape by several factors for example age, race, class, culture, sexuality, and religion. Many can interpret different ideas from those factors, but the main idea could be ‘the male dominates the alpha figure.’

 

Toxic masculinity can cause many issues. Unchecked Toxic masculinity and the behaviors it can cause may lead to a variety of issues, such as bullying, school discipline, academic challenges, jail or prison time, domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, risky behaviors, substance abuse, suicide, psychological trauma, lack of friendships or genuine connections.

 

How can it affect Mental Health?

 

It is said The American Psychological Association notes the dangers of trying to adhere to these exaggerated masculine traits. Men and boys forced to cling to these traits often experience adverse effects and may face problems, such as depression, body image issues, poor social function, substance abuse, and stress.

 

 

How can we challenge toxic masculinity?

 

In my opinion and in many others' opinions is to talk to others about this topic and the overall damage it can do to society and the men who have obtained the traits/examples of toxic masculinity, and it is very important to educate them and support them and potentially give them a reality check and find out why they are like this and show them a better version of themselves that they can create of their own gender and self-identity without adhering to stereotypes or the category of toxic masculinity.

 

 

We can also support them through their journey of overcoming toxic masculinity by educating others and ourselves and giving time to the people who suffer from toxic masculinity remember it will not be easy and you must be patient for that.