Why So Many Men Are Triggered By The Term Toxic Masculinity?

[icebergslm5506]

For me, it’s really simple. It doesn’t have anything to do with the concept of it. I’m just getting tired of all these social media buzzwords that people can’t stop saying, like “narrative”. I feel that the word “toxic masculinity” is just another one of those. It’s great that society is becoming more evolved and tackling long-standing social issues, but I just get so annoyed hearing these same buzzwords over and over in our social media obsessed culture.

 

[Mike.Teru]

For me, it’s really simple. It doesn’t have anything to do with the concept of it. I’m just getting tired of all these social media buzzwords that people can’t stop saying, like “narrative”. I feel that the word “toxic masculinity” is just another one of those. It’s great that society is becoming more evolved and tackling long-standing social issues, but I just get so annoyed hearing these same buzzwords over and over in our social media obsessed culture.

Especially when people just throw those terms around in order to end an argument.

 

[icebergslm5506]

Especially when people just throw those terms around in order to end an argument.

 

[JayPR]

For me, it’s really simple. It doesn’t have anything to do with the concept of it. I’m just getting tired of all these social media buzzwords that people can’t stop saying, like “narrative”. I feel that the word “toxic masculinity” is just another one of those. It’s great that society is becoming more evolved and tackling long-standing social issues, but I just get so annoyed hearing these same buzzwords over and over in our social media obsessed culture.

Do you think it's the word "toxic masculinity" the one that generates such negative reactions among men and not the concept per se?
For example, do you think that if the same concept/idea is called "repressive manhood" or "stereotyped male behavior" it would be better received?

 

[Sagittarius84]

Do you think it's the word "toxic masculinity" the one that generates such negative reactions among men and not the concept per se?
For example, do you think that if the same concept/idea is called "repressive manhood" or "stereotyped male behavior" it would be better received?

I doubt it...0any concept or initiative that forces one to possibly cast off attitudes and behaviors to which they have become accustomed to or have proven advantageous is not going to be majority well recieved, ever.

 

[Llbaker]

Do you think it's the word "toxic masculinity" the one that generates such negative reactions among men and not the concept per se?

For example, do you think that if the same concept/idea is called "repressive manhood" or "stereotyped male behavior" it would be better received?

Yeah. Men, especially the toxic ones, are triggered by the concept because they are in denial and lack self-awareness.

 

[hypolimnas]

Because it requires explanation for someone to know that it's not targetting all masculinity. Also the lack of toxic feminity as a term just makes this term feels extremely sexist towards the guys. Toxic behaviour is toxic behaviour, don't bring masculinity into it because I still think masculinity is a very positive term, as well as feminity.

Agreed

 

[HorseHung40's]

It is fashionable to discuss this right now. Blood diamonds are so over.

Pseudo-intellectuals are as simple minded as those trailer park fatties, who read all tabloids every week.

Any knowledge that they have of such a topic is superficial at best, usually gleaned from some famous influencer, who has a big mouth and a mindless following.

When I worked as a gigolo, I built quite a roster of rich women, some of whom were public figures. Of those public figures, some were outward angry feminists, who happily paid $1,000 in order to feel my penis inside them. If they made anti-male statements in public, I raised the price. That paid that too. To their respective organizations, it was hidden as a "consulting" fee.

 

[BigAl9]

I've noticed that men, especially straight men, don't belive toxic masculinity is a thing and get very defensive when someone uses the term and call it a problem in our society. To clarify, masculinity and being masculine are fine, the issue we are discussing is toxic masculinity which is another thing.

Why do you think of this term- and the behaviors associated with them (excessive aggressiveness, repression of emotions and feelings, prejudice towards anything sensible or not "manly enough", belief that masculinity is superior to feminity)- triggers so many men to the point that they think is an attack on men?

Glad to have clarification. I am/was one of those men who found the term very offensive. I now have a better understanding, and agree.

 

[hypolimnas]

It is fashionable to discuss this right now. Blood diamonds are so over.

Pseudo-intellectuals are as simple minded as those trailer park fatties, who read all tabloids every week.

Any knowledge that they have of such a topic is superficial at best, usually gleaned from some famous influencer, who has a big mouth and a mindless following.

When I worked as a gigolo, I built quite a roster of rich women, some of whom were public figures. Of those public figures, some were outward angry feminists, who happily paid $1,000 in order to feel my penis inside them. If they made anti-male statements in public, I raised the price. That paid that too. To their respective organizations, it was hidden as a "consulting" fee.

I totally agree, and feel it is still important to point that those who use the term have little understanding, appreciation or experience of men, and masculinity. They don't know what they don't know. Everything bad in the world is seen as a result of tyrannical male power. Their level of analysis indicates willful ignorance.

 

[HorseHung40's]

I totally agree, and feel it is still important to point that those who use the term have little understanding, appreciation or experience of men, and masculinity. They don't know what they don't know. Everything bad in the world is seen as a result of tyrannical male power. Their level of analysis indicates willful ignorance.

Well said! Thank you for the reinforcement.

 

[Toddster]

I kinda love Camille Paglia's response to that term. "Stop blaming men!"

 

[Toddster]

This woman is a boss.

 

[Toddster]

The idea that the male gaze is toxic is silly.

 

[W4_Hung]

Because toxic masculinity and the way the term is thrown around is applied to everything men do that isn't feminine. As much as the male gaze is observed and studied, all these pseudo-intellectuals fail to appreciate sociology is studied solely from a female gaze and invalidates the male experience unless it is within the confines a pre-approved feminine framework.

If you're being aggressive for aggression sake and being chauvinistic, yeah you should definitely take a seat but I don't support condemning natural behaviours which aren't damaging

 

[JayPR]

I was just watching a video on Instagram that exemplified what most people mean when they use the term toxic masculinity. There is this Instagram straight couple and the guy is like this pretty boy, kind of metrosexual, great gym body but not your typical alpha male with a dominant attitude. He seems very sensitive, soft-spoken, not uber-masculine, kind of geeky. The girl is gorgeous. Most of the comments under their videos are women praising how adorable and thoughtful he is and how a cute couple they make. Most men's comments are calling the guy gay, "fruit tootie", making fun that he is effeminate and not manly, accusing her of being oblivious about her bf sexuality, "how come she doesn't know that her man got some sugar in the tank", etc. I don't know if this guy is gay or not in real life, but when you question someone's sexuality because it doesn't follow what a man is supposed to look and behave, then I personally think there is a problem. It's not an attack on masculine men or traditional masculinity, it is a critic of the general belief that all men should behave a certain way in order to be considered real men or heterosexual, etc.

 

[JackGough]

I was just watching a video on Instagram that exemplified what most people mean when they use the term toxic masculinity. There is this Instagram straight couple and the guy is like this pretty boy, kind of metrosexual, great gym body but not your typical alpha male with a dominant attitude. He seems very sensitive, soft-spoken, not uber-masculine, kind of geeky. The girl is gorgeous. Most of the comments under their videos are women praising how adorable and thoughtful he is and how a cute couple they make. Most men's comments are calling the guy gay, "fruit tootie", making fun that he is effeminate and not manly, accusing her of being oblivious about her bf sexuality, "how come she doesn't know that her man got some sugar in the tank", etc. I don't know if this guy is gay or not in real life, but when you question someone's sexuality because it doesn't follow what a man is supposed to look and behave, then I personally think there is a problem. It's not an attack on masculine men or traditional masculinity, it is a critic of the general belief that all men should behave a certain way in order to be considered real men or heterosexual, etc.

That isn't toxic masculinity, it's jealousy.

 

[JayPR]

That isn't toxic masculinity, it's jealousy.

I somewhat agree with you. But it can be both jealousy and toxic masculinity. Growing up I saw the same behavior of guys calling out other guys for not being man enough, for being "girls" whenever they were not behaving as most men were supposed to behave, and there was not an attractive woman in those scenarios.

 

[deleted16124871]

and if toxic masculinity exists, then toxic femininity exist as well

 

[JayPR]

and if toxic masculinity exists, then toxic femininity exist as well

Yes, you're right. Toxic femininity exists. One example: when a girl who is free-spirited, bold, likes sports, doesn't like to wear makeup or dresses and because of that is called a tomboy or lesbian. I have a cousin who suffered that, all my aunts called her out for not being a lady, and that she should change because that behavior is not appropriate for a woman.