In present-day society, people often address toxic masculinity to express excessive masculine traits that many cultures have widely believed or glorified. This evil concept of masculinity also places significant importance on ‘manliness’ based on- power, lack of emotion, self-sufficiency, dominance, and sexual virility. According to mythical toxic masculine values, a male who does not display enough of these traits may fall short of being a ‘real man.’ Overemphasis on these features may lead to harmful shortcomings in someone trying to live up to these expectations. One example of this includes telling another person who reveals emotions to man up. This example depicts how some people view sentiment or vulnerability as ‘unmanly.’ Another example is the saying, “boys will be boys.” This expression refers to reckless, hostile behavior in young males; rather than teaching them about efficiency and owning up to their blunders. These views can cause infliction and adorn the concept of masculinity, leading to an even more toxic approach toward these acts. The origins of what many people view as masculinity emerged thousands of years ago. When early homo sapiens used might, for example, to exert dominance or take administration. The most prosperous male homo sapiens were those who could struggle and hunt. In those times, the most popular traits would likely have included hostility, ruthlessness, and physical strength. These practices continued for centuries. Throughout history, powerful male rulers have gained power by conquering others.
This model survived unaltered until the 1980s and 1990s when these ancestral male behaviors became conflicting with the views of modern society. However, because present society has led to such a shift in perspective toward these male operations, and because it no longer proclaims these obsolete views of manliness, several groups still fall sufferer to these ‘conventional norms.’ It is when masculinity can become ‘toxic.’ It is this demand for certain men to be in a particular way as commanded by an ideology. If a male supposes they are not matching these artificial traits or not aligning with these narrow views, they may feel they are falling short. It may result in a demand to lash out these traits to re-establish their ‘nobility.’ Some people consider that toxic masculinity is critical because it restricts a person’s adulthood. When a boy or adult male sees the world through a narrow lens, they may believe that they will only win acceptance by living up to these traits. Some theories register that toxic masculinity plays a role in physical health; it may limit some men from seeking out help for possible health issues and other potential problems. For some males, asking for help may lead to feelings of inadequacy, weakness, and perceptions of being ‘less of a man.’ Eliminating or changing toxic masculinity will not happen overnight. On a personal level, it may be easy enough to educate ourselves about their attitudes towards masculinity and hold space for others to help change their definitions. Inviting a friend to share their emotions or feelings about the topic, and openly discussing them without judgment or criticism can be a good way to move forward. Moving past toxic masculinity begins with redefining what it means to be a man. Each person should aspire to find a healthy definition of their individuality and work towards achieving it. Holding space for others to openly discuss their feelings about the issue may help people re-shape their definitions as well.
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