Not
A few more thoughts to be added to Lance’s on the toxic concept of toxic masculinity.
The term creates the notion and implication that all masculinity is toxic, which makes it libelous and slanderous calumny.
Granted some toxic behavior may appear masculine but the bigger issue is what can be labeled “toxic feminization backlash“.
For at least one generation there has been a toxic war on boys.
Boys who don’t conform to feminized ideals of behavior or comport themselves like little girls are stigmatized, disciplined or even medicated.
Boyish behavior has been quashed or even criminalized , if not by statute then by the court of public opinion.
If you know about dogs then you are aware that whippets need to run around a lot. If they don’t then they become neurotic and exhibit dysfunctional behavior.
This is what has been done to boys for decades and when one of them reaches a breaking point or is gaslighted by society or rendered psychotic by behavior medication, masculinity at large is held accountable.
Enough of this bullshit.
When my son was about ten he was at a birthday party where the birthday boy received a book entitled, “The Dangerous Book for Boys”, which is all about stuff boys are meant to do. Climb trees, whittle a stick, skim a rock on water, and so on.
Someone suggested I get a copy for my son.
I said, why should he waste his time reading these things when he actually does them. It’s very empowering for a ten-year old to be given an axe and told, it’s not a toy, be careful, come back with as much dry wood you can carry and I’ll show you how to build a fire and cook on it. Or to take a bunch of boys to Wal-Mart at one in the morning to pick out knives for themselves.
Masculine behavior is not a crime and is not toxic.
Here are some results of “toxic masculinity”:
Getting into tiny boats and crossing the North Atlantic to explore new lands
Clearing the forests and creating new life there.
Establishing a new rule of law based on personal liberty and capitalism benefiting more people than anything else in history.
Freeing the slaves.
Storming the beaches of Normandy and defeating Nazism.
Rushing into burning buildings to carry people to safety.
Making yourself a target to rescue hostages.
This is what masculinity has to offer.
If you think it’s toxic, don’t just shut the fuck up.
Don’t even look in my direction, don’t even exhale near the air I breathe.
Just crawl under a rock and shrivel away you ungrateful piece of shit.