By Bruce Piekarsa
Staff Writer
Superficial judgment results in many students losing their sense of self in order to conform with others. This may put a pressure on young men to put on a façade of toughness, belittle others to appear powerful and bottle up their emotions.
Many young men, including myself, have been victims of toxic masculinity. This way of thinking has been seared into our minds since childhood. Moving forward, people need to stop pushing this false narrative that men must adopt a set of stereotypes to fit in.
These ideals, according to the American Psychology Association, have been linked to “aggression and violence,” leaving men at a “disproportionate risk for school discipline, academic challenges and health disparities.” It’s clear that this ideology is unhealthily affecting young mens’ malleable minds.
As an elementary schooler, I used to make fun of boys for things that I deemed girly. In hindsight, it wasn’t a very kind thing to do, but my so-called friends encouraged it. I still have a very fresh memory from second grade making fun of somebody for liking the movie “Frozen.” Now, it’s one of my favorite movies, and I can only imagine how I made him feel. In fact, I’m now in place of the kid I mocked. It’s not uncommon for me to get teased by others for the way I speak and carry myself.
The term “toxic masculinity” suggests that masculinity can be toxic, not that it inherently is toxic. The solution to preventing masculinity from becoming harmful is to change the way we think. Men don’t simply develop thoughts of self-reliance or avoidance of emotional expression on their own. Peers and role models influence them with this narrative. If men feel pressured into fitting a label set upon them, then it’s our responsibility to correct them when it’s necessary and show that this obsession isn’t practical.
Some may say that men shouldn’t be able to show even a hint of femininity– that these roles are correct and should be upheld. This way of thinking, however, is very rigid considering these ideals are harmful, not just to men, but to society as a whole. Masculinity in men is fine, and it shouldn’t be completely abandoned. However, it must not become a mindset that negatively harms others.
I’m not saying men need to start crying more. I’m simply saying that we don’t need to hold back their tears.Mending the toxic masculine mindset