Masculinity Toxicity: Meaning, Prevalent Problems, and Strategies to Combat It
In contemporary society, the concept of toxic masculinity has gained significant attention as a harmful and restrictive model of manhood that negatively impacts men's mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
Toxic masculinity refers to a set of socially constructed beliefs that emphasise toughness, emotional suppression, dominance, and the rejection of vulnerability. These traditional norms have been associated with higher rates of stress, violence, addiction, and suicide among men.
As our understanding of gender roles evolves, there is a growing movement to replace toxic masculinity with healthy masculinity—a concept that embraces emotional intelligence, empathy, vulnerability, and authentic connection. This shift challenges the "man-up" culture that links male identity to emotional stoicism and self-reliance, encouraging men to openly share feelings, seek help, and forge supportive communities.
In schools, toxic masculinity contributes to misogyny and violence against women, reinforcing damaging gender norms that harm both boys and girls. In economic and social terms, men face pressures to be primary providers. Failure to meet these expectations can lead to social isolation and increased suicide risk, with men unable to fulfil the provider role being 16.3 times more likely to contemplate suicide.
Social isolation worsens mental health challenges, as many men feel deeply unknown or unsupported, which correlates strongly with suicidal ideation. The rise of the "emotionally intelligent man" reflects a cultural transformation where men are questioning outdated norms and redefining masculinity around kindness, self-awareness, and meaningful emotional expression.
Addressing toxic masculinity is seen as a key factor in tackling domestic violence, improving men's overall well-being, and fostering safer, more inclusive societies. The exact definition of toxic masculinity has evolved over time, with one study in the Journal of School of Psychology defining it as "the constellation of socially regressive [masculine] traits that serve to foster domination, the devaluation of women, homophobia, and wanton violence."
Eliminating or changing toxic masculinity will not happen overnight, but as more people begin to define their own version of masculinity and include other human experiences within that definition, gender roles will continue to change on a larger scale. The term "toxic masculinity" stems from the mythopoetic men's movement in the 1980s, a movement founded by men for men to provide an outlet for their 'manliness.'
However, certain groups and subcultures still fall victim to these 'expected norms,' leading to toxic masculinity. Asking for help may lead to feelings of inadequacy, weakness, and perceptions of being 'less of a man' for some males. This concept, called gender role conflict, places a strain on the man who does not meet these exaggerated masculine traits.
Men experiencing mental health issues might not seek out professional care or even talk about their struggles with friends or family due to traditional masculine values. This lashing out can lead to dangerous behaviour, both to the individual or those around them. Examples of the harmful effects of toxic masculinity include aggression, sexual aggression or control, showing no emotion or suppressing emotions, hyper-competitiveness, a tendency towards or glorification of violence, isolation, low empathy, entitlement, chauvinism, and sexism.
As we continue to challenge and redefine traditional gender norms, it is crucial to acknowledge the impact of toxic masculinity on men's mental health and well-being, and to promote healthier expressions of masculinity that embrace emotional intelligence, empathy, and authentic connection.
- The link between toxic masculinity and higher rates of stress, violence, addiction, and suicide among men suggests that this concept is detrimental to their mental health.
- In an effort to counter the damaging effects of toxic masculinity, there is a growing push to promote healthy masculinity, which values emotional intelligence, empathy, vulnerability, and authentic connection.
- The misconception that male identity is tied to emotional stoicism and self-reliance is part of the "man-up" culture that encourages silence and discourages men from seeking help, which can worsen mental health challenges.
- The clash between traditional masculine values and the need for emotional support creates gender role conflicts, making it difficult for some men to seek help for their mental health issues.
- Addressing and redefining toxic masculinity in advertising, schools, and society at large could lead to improvements in men's mental health and well-being, and foster safer, more inclusive societies.
