A 2019 study found that toxic masculinity can prevent men from consoling a victim, calling for help, and standing up to the perpetrator. This is an example of an overly simplistic, logically flawed, “superstitious” moral story. First of all, toxic masculinity suppresses feelings and refuses to display them because it is viewed as a sign of weakness (Salam, 2019). So how can toxic masculinity hurt men in general? These days, the conversation is utterly divided. Men should not be interested in “feminine things” because this makes them appear weak Toxic and fragile masculinity is a real problem, and as women continue to gain more and more equality, it is only going to get worse if we don’t start addressing it. Examples of toxic masculinity in the media include hyper-masculine men, violence against women, and rape jokes. Toxic masculinity is the idea that traditional masculine traits are superior to feminine ones. “Toxic masculinity” is a term that most males are familiar with. Toxic masculinity is the sum of values and behaviors that are traditionally viewed as “masculine” in many cultures and includes several crucial characteristics that allow calling it toxic. A study co-authored by a Michigan State University sociologist found that men who endorse hegemonic ideals of masculinity — or “toxic masculinity” — can become socially isolated as they age, impacting their health, well-being and overall happiness. The concept of toxic masculinity has been around since the 1980's, but it wasn't until the 2010's that discussions moved into the mainstream as people confronted stereotypical "norms" of what is socially considered masculine or manly and how most of them come with negative connotations that harm men and the people they interact with. The harmful term otherwise known as toxic masculinity refers to the norms that govern not only men, but women and all of society as well; when discussing toxic masculinity, the goal is not to offend men, instead it’s to bring attention to the negative aspects of a socially constructed masculinity and the detrimental impacts which they may cause. As explained before, toxic masculinity creates a ‘standard’ about how men should behave in general and with mass media promoting it, there’s a certain pressure that most men would feel after seeing those ads. Fundamentally, “toxic masculinity” is the belief that masculinity can be toxic, not that it inherently is toxic. Example of an ad exhibiting a ‘ladies’ man’ and rape culture. The belief that “real men” must be strong, tough and independent may be a detriment to their social needs later in life. Men who endorsed the belief that men should be strong and aggressive were more likely to perceive negative social consequences associated with intervening as an active bystander. Toxic masculinity can also suggest that men who act too emotional or aren’t violent enough are not “real men.” Below are some examples of ideas/beliefs associated with toxic masculinity: Manhood is defined by violence, sex, status and aggression. The media has been accused of promoting toxic masculinity. The term has evolved over time and has a place both in academia and everyday speech. How Toxic Masculinity Harms Men and Society As A Whole. Toxic Masculinity Examples In Media. It’s a term that surrounds negative aspects of stereotypical masculine characteristics.For example, a man might experience negative connotations if he’s grocery shopping with his toddler or something of the like—something a female might be more associated with. When you hear “toxic masculinity”, what comes to mind? Toxic masculinity is a term often used to describe the negative aspects of exaggerated masculine traits.