The Toxic Effects Of Implinity: The Toxic Culture Of Masculinity

The Toxic Culture of Masculinity

This paper will detail the toxic effects that were caused by the hypermasculine attitude our culture has created. It will prove that glorification of masculinity encourages abuse, violence, and gender roles. What do most people think when they hear the phrase “be a man”? They probably think to toughen up and suppress their emotions, because everyone knows men don’t cry. In our society, traditional masculinity is characterized by violence, danger, promiscuity, and a lack of emotions. This is seen as the ultimate standard all men must aspire to. This infatuation with standard masculine ideals has instilled people with a mindset of male superiority. Society’s glorification of masculinity is toxic because it encourages

Society’s encouragement of traditional masculinity is what makes men violent. It all starts when they are young. “We teach young boys that girls don’t mean no when they say no. We teach our daughters that boys who pull their hair when they are five do so because “they like them”. We teach our sons that being violent is the best way to tell someone they love them.” (Source 7.11). When boys act out, their actions are brushed off. This is where the phrase “boys will be boys” comes in. When people say this, it suggests that men have no control over their actions and act only on natural instinct. This is detrimental to both women and men. The phrase “boys will be boys” hurts women because it is often used to excuse abuse and rape, chalking it up to men being unable to manage their anger. In turn, men are stereotyped as animalistic brutes who are too stupid to understand the concept of

At his base, Stanley represents everything men are encouraged to aspire to be: attractive, confident, well-built, hard-drinking, and possessing an appetite for pleasure. His alpha-male status is also helped by the role of Stanley being originated by charismatic sex symbol Marlon Brando. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Stanley exemplifies the negative aspects of traditional masculinity. He’s abusive and dismissive to his wife Stella; at one point he goes as far as to hit her in a drunken rage, and it’s implied that this is normal for him. His actions towards his sister-in-law Blanche is no better. He continually strives to find out her secrets and destroy her life, seemingly on the basis that he dislikes her haughty and fanciful attitude. By prying into her past and revealing her issues, he asserts control over her. His actions ruin Blanche’s chance of a new start in life and drive her to the edge of a mental breakdown, which seems to be exactly what Stanley wanted. For the final nail in the coffin, Stanley rapes Blanche, shattering any semblance of sanity she had left. In the end, Stanley gets exactly what he wanted - Stella chooses to remain with him instead of leaving with their baby, and Blanche is dragged off to a mental asylum. He has upheld his status as the alpha-male.