How does toxic masculinity hurt men and how could we solve it?

Patriarchy exists in many societies and hurts both men and women through “toxic masculinity.” The term “toxic masculinity” normalizes many negative male behaviors that lead to harmful situations such as sexual harassment and abuse, and it shapes some gender roles for both men and women. To illustrate, it sets that women should be at home and do housework, and men should find a job and get money as a family leader. In a patriarchal society, men are expected to be brave and dominant, and toxic masculinity affects mental health in men including male rape victims and encourages men to engage in harmful behaviors.

Toxic masculinity affects boys and young men from the time they are born in how people teach their children, and it affects male toxic socialization. According to a survey by Plan international USA that polled teenagers and adults about boys’ and girls’ equality; the poll showed that three-quarters of boys implied that they are taught to be physically strong and tough, and some of them need to play sports even they are uncomfortable with it. Moreover, even in their families, people play off some sexist jokes as normal and often criticize their male children of “being like a girl” (Miller, 2018); therefore, many men avoid doing “women’s activities” so that they won’t be criticized by other men. This is one of the male toxic…