I personally don’t like the idea of the phrase toxic masculinity because I don’t believe that the masculine energy is toxic in and of itself. I feel like a more appropriate term would be pseudo masculinity. Because that implies that people are not naturally this way, but they are forcing themselves to act this way in pursuit of some perceived ideal of masculinity.
I mean, humans are frequently guilty of using terms that mean a very specific thing in a much broader sense as a shorthand for clearly communicating what we specifically mean in that instance.
For instance, I have heard people are use the phrase “toxic masculinity” to describe boyfriends that don’t want to do the dishes, when the actual correct term is “lazy piece of shit”, but for some reason, when communicating this information to other people, it is easier for them to ascribe an issue with the sex of the person than an issue with the choices of the person, implying that the only actual fix is to repair your emotional relationship with your own sex instead of accepting that everyone has a human responsibility to contribute to doing the chores around the house.
Once again, I reiterate that masculinity and masculine energy is not toxic, any more than femininity and feminine energy is toxic, and I also exhort anyone that took the time to read this much to do their best to effectively and accurately communicate using specific language rather than emotional shorthand.
Love the term “pseudo-masculinity.” It takes away from the gender slant of toxic masculinity, implies anyone can have it, and makes clear it’s not what masculinity should be.
I’d never heard it before and I understood the implication before they expanded on it. I’m a woman and a feminist who thinks the term toxic masculinity is unsuitable.
I personally don’t like the idea of the phrase toxic masculinity because I don’t believe that the masculine energy is toxic in and of itself. I feel like a more appropriate term would be pseudo masculinity. Because that implies that people are not naturally this way, but they are forcing themselves to act this way in pursuit of some perceived ideal of masculinity.
I mean, humans are frequently guilty of using terms that mean a very specific thing in a much broader sense as a shorthand for clearly communicating what we specifically mean in that instance.
For instance, I have heard people are use the phrase “toxic masculinity” to describe boyfriends that don’t want to do the dishes, when the actual correct term is “lazy piece of shit”, but for some reason, when communicating this information to other people, it is easier for them to ascribe an issue with the sex of the person than an issue with the choices of the person, implying that the only actual fix is to repair your emotional relationship with your own sex instead of accepting that everyone has a human responsibility to contribute to doing the chores around the house.
Once again, I reiterate that masculinity and masculine energy is not toxic, any more than femininity and feminine energy is toxic, and I also exhort anyone that took the time to read this much to do their best to effectively and accurately communicate using specific language rather than emotional shorthand.
Love the term “pseudo-masculinity.” It takes away from the gender slant of toxic masculinity, implies anyone can have it, and makes clear it’s not what masculinity should be.
The people who are offended by “toxic masculinity” already use pseudo masculinity to describe everything not toxic masculinity.
All yold I think pseudo masculinity can only be more confusing.
I’d never heard it before and I understood the implication before they expanded on it. I’m a woman and a feminist who thinks the term toxic masculinity is unsuitable.
That may be. I’m just suggesting pseudo masculinity is worse because it’s already confused.
But so is toxic masculinity. It’s used to describe men being assholes because they’re men, and not because they just happen to be assholes, too.
Hey, sure. I’m not arguing for the term toxic masculinity. I’m arguing against pseudo masculinity because it’s way more confusing.
It’s probably better to find another term entirely
I understood pseudo masculinity without the explanation. I haven’t seen any evidence yet that the term has been confused.
But any term for a gender issue is going to be misconstrued and confused, just look at the term feminism.
I’m also strongly resonating with pseudo-masculinity!
Thanks for coining that wee gem