Toxic masculinity creates a culture of violence and aggression. Men who adhere to traditional masculine roles are more likely to engage in physical or verbal aggression than those who don’t. Studies have found that traditional masculine gender roles are linked with higher rates of violent behaviour, such as physical assault, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Additionally, men who display traditional views of masculinity are more likely to commit murder or other violent crimes than those who don’t adhere to these gender norms.
Another negative consequence of toxic masculinity is its connection with mental health issues. Studies have found that when men feel pressured to fit into the traditional masculine role, they may experience depression and anxiety at higher rates than those who don’t feel the same pressure. Men can also become isolated from friends and family due to their adherence to the rigid gender roles that come with toxic masculinity. This isolation can lead to further mental health issues such as loneliness and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. Additionally, studies have found that traditional male roles can lead to an increased risk for substance abuse among men.
Lastly, toxic masculinity can lead to negative body image issues among men as well. Men may feel pressure from society not only to look a certain way but also act a certain way in order for them to be considered “manly” enough. This pressure can lead them down a path where they become overly concerned with how they look or how much muscle they have in order for them to fit into society’s idea of what a man should look like and act like. This can result in severe body image issues such as low self-esteem and eating disorders among some men which can further exacerbate their mental health problems if left untreated.
It is important for men today to embrace healthy forms of masculinity instead of adhering too strictly to outdated gender roles associated with toxic masculinity if we want our society as a whole move forward in an accepting way towards healthy forms of expression for all genders without judgement or negativity attached towards any one group or individual based on their gender identity or expression thereof . By embracing healthy forms of expression we will create an environment where everyone feels empowered and accepted regardless of whether they conform perfectly or not; allowing us all the freedom we need to explore ourselves without fear of judgement or being ostracized by our peers for being “too different” from what society expects us all to look like or behave like according our assigned genders at birth.