Examples Of Toxic Masculinity

Benson Lin

Professor Owen

English Composition

15 January 2023

Two Coins to Masculinity

Masculinity has long been a source of controversy, as different society have their own varying standards of what it means to be a “real man”. In recent years, our society has shifted to view traditional masculinity traits more in a negative light, commonly referring to them as toxic masculinity. A couple examples would be men suppressing their emotions because it’s a sign of weakness, or the idea that they must compete against and dominate others. Such behaviors can have destructive effects for both men and women. Thus, some people believe it’s imperative to reduce toxic masculinity if we want to create a safe and equitable environment for everyone.

The op-ed,

To me, the issue with toxic masculinity doesn’t lie in the associated traits or behaviors, but rather the intention behind performing them. To illustrate, it is still imperative in modern day for men to be both physically and/or mentally resilient for numerous reasons. A man has to be physically strong in order to take on hard labor work, such as coal mining, bricklayer, logging workers, etc., as well as be mentally resilient to endure hardship and provide a sense of security for the family. However, the problem is that men aren’t developing their masculinity with virtuous intents in mind, and are rather becoming physically and/or mentally resilient for mostly shallow and self-centered causes, such as seeking attention/admiration, trying to gain power and control, or aggressively asserting dominance over others. These sorts of intentions for developing masculinity is the main issue to me. To sum it up, I don’t think the issue lies in the traditional traits or behaviors, but rather the lack of virtue and misuse of

By doing this, we can help them understand how to develop the positive aspects of traditional masculinity, such as leadership, courage, protection, etc., while avoiding destructive ones, such as aggression, violence and sexism. These values will help men to become capable individuals who can make responsible decisions and lead others in times of hardship, while simultaneously preventing them from becoming the violent and sexist men that individuals like Sexton feared. In effect, it would create a healthier society, for both men and women. Furthermore, it will also help those who think tradition masculinity is harmful see the positive aspect of it, which can help bridge the gap between the two sides. All in all, while this solution may not resolve the entire issue at hand, it’s certainly a place to start if we want to begin seeing change. After all, it’s the very same method practiced by our current society, with the difference being that we teach them to become masculine not to be seen as powerful and domineering, but to build the strength and courage to protect their loved ones, make positive contributions, and ultimately create a healthier, safer society for