In previous generations, being a masculine man was not something to be ashamed of. Recently, gender roles have undergone significant changes, many of which are beneficial for society. For example, women have found a greater sense of equality, taking on more power and representation. However, the shift has also caused detrimental effects, such as the shift towards viewing masculinity as something undesirable. The changes in societal gender norms have caused a double standard in the perception of masculinity, with men being seen through a restrictive lens while also being expected to be stoic. These effects cause men to feel silenced and isolated.
Growing stigma around traditional masculinity has certainly increased in the modern era. Terms such as “toxic masculinity” routinely highlight problems associated with the social image of masculinity, including aggression. It is true that harmful behaviors related to masculinity must be addressed, but the overgeneralization of masculinity as being inherently distasteful alienates men. In fact, a 2017 Pew Research Center study found that 37% of Americans view looking up to masculinity as negative. The overall societal shift presented is also hypocritical. While masculinity is further ostracized, men are still expected to embody it. According to the same Pew Research Center study, 86% of men feel pressured to remain emotionally stoic, a central trait of masculinity. Essentially, men are still expected to take up their traditional roles while society paradoxically attacks them for it. The issues with masculinity have also led to the rise in popularity of toxic masculinists such as Andrew Tate, attracting insecure men to a dangerous ideology that reinforces misogynistic views. A clear divide has been shown: Men are unsure of whether to choose to adhere to traditional masculinity — and perhaps slip into toxic masculinity — or to buy into masculinity reforms that reduce their agency.
The modern era has also unfairly burdened men with suppression. According to a joint poll conducted by digital newspaper Politico and market company Ipsos MORI, around 55% of Americans believe that stigma exists around male vulnerability. When men cannot open up about their problems without facing backlash, they keep their emotions bottled up, which leads to lower social support and emotional connection, according to a 2009 study published by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Since men face scrutiny for being vulnerable, they keep their feelings in the dark. According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, men made up 80% of total suicides in 2022, a rate four times higher than women. According to Dr. Claudia Elsig, the expectation to suppress emotions plays a large factor in the high suicide rates in young men, signifying that reducing the ability for young men to be open about their feelings contributes to their mental health problems. Extending this argument, there is no end goal that men can achieve to be both accepted by society and still retain their masculinity, a problem that is not discussed enough and leads to mental health issues.
Some might argue that men can open up to others. After all, open minds and emotions are sought for in
this day and age. But this is often not the case. Although traditional masculinity has been called out for its issues, men are still expected to embrace it, creating a dangerous cycle where men are criticized for expressing masculinity while also being criticized for not embodying it. In such a world, society must stop painting masculinity as a negative trait and embrace its positive sides.
