Question

What role might toxic masculinity be playing in sexual harassment, mass shootings, mass incarceration, or other issues?

Answer 1

Toxic masculinity indicates conformity to traditional masculine behaviors such as male dominance, hate towards homosexual individuals, violence for getting competitive edge, etc. Toxic masculinity defined as "the constellation of socially regressive male trait that foster male dominance, homophobia, violence" (Kupers, 2005 and 2010). These behaviors damage men, women, and even society with its violence and harm to healthy growth.

Destructive behaviors and traits are followed by some people to have command over others, have privilege over others in society, etc. These behaviors can be noted as toxic masculinity. Below given are some points which demonstrate role of toxic masculinity in damaging society like sexual harassment, mass shootings, etc.

1. Bullying the peers to get privilege and benefits is kind of toxic masculinity, which if continued as trait will result in more bullying in the form of kidnapping, gang wars, etc.

2. Male dominant behavior which is observed as toxic masculinity, which if continued more will result in sexual harassment and intolerance to female coworkers or superiors at work, thus resulting in frustration and mass killing or damage to property.

3. People with toxic masculinity trait may be addicted to some narcotic or illicit drugs which again may result in threat to peace in society.

4. Some behaviors considered generally as male thing such as gambling, street fighting, wrestling may result in mass murdering or violence.

5. People with such beliefs about masculinity may incline towards male dominance and feel female involvement in business or work as a threat to their belief, resulting in harassment.

By going through above points, we get picture about role of toxic masculinity in issues like sexual harassment, massacres, incarcerations. We can conclude that people with such behavioral traits or affiliations will certainly pose a threat to healthy development of society and their behaviors may result in damage to people in society.

Reference:

1. Kupers, Terry (June 2005), Toxic masculinity as a barrier to mental health treatment in prison."

2. Kupers, Terry (2010), "Role of Misogyny and Homophobia in Prison Sexual Abuse," UCLA.