Toxic Masculinity Summary

Toxic masculinity is the idea that social expectations of masculinity and stereotypical attitudes towards men are detrimental to their emotional development. This recognition that gender stereotypes hurt men as well as women is a critical argument for the urgent and continuing need for re-examining gender roles in contemporary society. As a feminist, I appreciate that this article describes in detail how thoroughly ingrained cultural presumptions about gender are in our society and see it as a major component of feminism today. Reading Jade.I.Am’s article on the emotional and psychological effects of gender stereotypes revealed to me many of the widespread effects that unreasonable, unfounded, societal expectations can have on men. Having …show more content…
When we tell a boy that he “cries like a girl” we don’t just insult women—we oppress men on a psychological level, reinforcing the unnecessary patriarchal principle that men are above emotional distress. While boys are taught from childhood that it is unacceptable for them to express their feelings, girls are free to react to situations with unrestricted emotion. This emotional double-standard is a detriment to men and boys well into adulthood, handicapping their understanding of human …show more content…
This article demonstrates to students like myself that not all human behavior can be classified as masculine and feminine and that it is unnecessary, and often unhealthy, to conform to societal expectations of our genders. Obviously, this article shows young men that it is healthy for them to express their emotions and encourages them to undermine traditional ideas of masculinity; but it also implies to young women that they should not let feminine stereotypes define