The Emergence and Definition of Toxic Masculinity

Toxic masculinity, a term that emerged in the 1980s within the mythopoetic men's movement, refers to harmful and limiting expectations about being a man. It gained wider popularity in the mid-2010s. Although masculinity varies across cultures, toxic masculinity represents beliefs and behaviors that harm both men themselves and others. It is associated with negative health outcomes and higher levels of violence. However, the term can be misunderstood as labeling all masculinity as inherently toxic, which hinders productive conversations about gender expectations.