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“Trump and Putin Meet in Testosterone-Fueled Face-Off” was a recent headline which implied their masculinity was the primary element in this conversation between these world leaders. Is this merely sensationalized reporting or is this a means of masking the potential effect these two men (and their coteries) could have on the world at large?
At the center of this conversation is the premise of “toxic masculinity” which is a social construct describing the masculine gender role as violent, unemotional, sexually aggressive and so on.
Does defining male relationships, particularly ones with men in positions of social, cultural or political power limit the number of choices, ideas and perspectives the men involved are willing to bring to solving the problems they are empowered to deal with?
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We want to hear your point of view: How did you acquire your view of what you think of as masculine behavior? Has a particular aspect of your view of masculinity lead to challenges or misunderstandings where you live or work?
Do you think extremes in masculinity and by extension, some of the underlying concept of patriarchy, have had a negative effect on society?
Should gender roles define how we treat each other in the world? Or are gender roles now more socially constraining, creating greater challenges for societies as different views on masculinity are coming in conflict across borders?
When you’re ready to submit, click the red box, below.
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This is why you guys couldn’t even make 10% of your fundraiser goal. Your entire frame for thinking about things is hopelessly marred in unconscious misandry.
The only time I have seen toxic masculinity as a problem is when people are trying to “cure” it. Its an epidemic in the grade school. Teachers try very hard to eradicate that nasty masculinity from boys, pushing them towards cooperation rather then competition, working on their opinions of how to solve problems…and the result; TADA!!! Every year less and less boys graduate! Congratulations, rather then using the natural excitement of competition to help kids learn( or rather learn to learn) you have squelched all of it, and made them failures. GOOD JOB, SHRINK! Anything else you want to ruin?… Read more »
As a psychotherapist specializing in sex and gender issues, I’ve found that a more helpful paradigm is to look at the destructive ways men and women act has more to do with ACEs or Adverse Childhood Experiences, which both men and women are subjected to. We know that those with higher testosterone levels will express their pain in more angry and aggressive ways, but it isn’t masculinity that is toxic, its the responses we have to being abused, neglected, and abandoned growing up (and in later relationships) that often are at the root of our troubled relationships, whether they are… Read more »
You’re right, but that will take looking at the early childhood treatment of boys by their maternal caregivers, a extremely touchy subject……the data is there that boys emotional disadvantages are set in the first years of life.
Undoubtedly, you are correct in your assumption and I wouldn’t doubt your findings. I’m sure we both know that the complex paradigm that you present here isn’t “soundbitey” or sensationalist enough to sell to the masses and it won’t stir up the same level of contrived emotive response as something as simplistic and incendiary as “toxic masculinity”.
Describing the gender role expectations we place on men and boys as “toxic masculinity” puts the blame back on men and boys. It is shaming and tells us it’s our own fault. We would never describe the gender expectations of women and girls as “toxic femininity”. Gender roles are created and enforced by everyone. If we are to respect women as actors in their own lives and the lives of those around them (rather than simply people who are acted upon) we need to recognize that females also enforce and create gender roles. Let us treat thr problems of males… Read more »
Exactly.
And where, pray tell, is the discussion of toxic FEMININITY? Not here, for sure, except for Steve Horsemen’s coaching articles to help poor beta chumps who are being destroyed by their toxic wives’ behavior.
To here about toxic femininity, you’d need to take some red pill medicine. Maybe see Cassie Jaye’s Red Pill movie. Maybe spend some time listening to some deep thinkers like Karen Straughan, Professor Jordan Peterson, and others.
Just getting to the point where the societal empathy deficit toward men and boys gets addressed would be huge……
It won]t happen because of folks here. They’re among the biggest perps.
Again, the straw man argument appears! No one is saying “ALL” masculinity is toxic. If you actually READ the call for submissions above, here’s an important part: “At the center of this conversation is the premise of ‘toxic masculinity’ which is a social construct describing the masculine gender role as violent, unemotional, sexually aggressive and so on.” Having this discussion is all about having empathy for men. There are men and women in our society that extol/push an agenda that defines manhood as being the antiquated macho stereotype of men being aloof, dominating, violent alpha males that believe in might… Read more »
P.S. ALSO, no one is trying to “shame” men and boys either, at least not in connection with this submission call.