Finding Common Ground With The Term — ‘Toxic Masculinity’

For the most part, I don’t agree with this term. I think it’s one of those man-hating feminist buzzwords that aim to demonise men. However, with any polarising topic that intrigues me, I do my best to consider other perspectives. When I try putting myself in the shoes of someone who uses the words “toxic masculinity,” I think of uncontrolled male aggression.

Now, I have two things to say about aggression -

Firstly, both men and women have the capacity for aggression. It’s just that in men, aggression is more likely to manifest itself as physical violence. Also, testosterone is usually associated with aggression, and so I’m making the link between masculinity and aggression through a biochemical lens, given that testosterone is the dominant male sex hormone.

Secondly, aggression is neither good nor bad. Aggression is a human faculty that serves a purpose. If someone breaks into your home, you better hope the man of the house is able to display his aggression in order to protect the home.

Male aggression becomes an issue when it manifests itself in destructive, uncontrolled ways. Because men have a larger capacity for aggression and violence, they also have a duty to contain it. And it’s for obvious reasons why a man who can’t keep himself under control is a threat, not only to his stupid self but also to those around him. Violent and out of control men cause harm to others, and that’s most certainly a toxic trait.

However, a man who is capable of violence and is able to keep it under control is most certainly not a toxic individual. As Jordan Peterson says, “a harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control. “

In conclusion, it’s not that masculinity or aggression is bad. Although, I can jump on board with the argument that uncontrolled male aggression and violence is toxic. Whether we should associate that with the term “masculinity” is questionable. To me, that’s just called being a “dickhead”. But, I’ll strive for some sort of common ground here in my analysis and settle for the uncontrolled aggression of a man as a form of “toxic masculinity.”