The Atlantic - In Praise of Heroic Masulinity
This is a long piece, and it wouldn't make sense to copy and paste it here, but if anyone is interested in a really valuable, accurate and inspiring take on "masculinity" in today's society, this article from The Atlantic is exceptional.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/heroic-toxic-masculinity-boys/675172/
Yes. "Toxic Masculinity" does exist. But so does, as coined by the writer, "Heroic Masculinity."
So if you're a woman leaning towards "all men bad" or demanding behavior that doesn't acknowledge certain truths, or a man with "faux-masculinity" who leans towards "all women bad" and "poor me," this would be a really good one to read.
At the very least for the dudes, it offers something to aspire to. And women as well. "Heroic" isn't defined by gender.
My take is that you don't ever need to feel that, as a man, you should turn away or apologize from helping, protecting and defending others for fear of it being seen as "toxic." That's not it.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/heroic-toxic-masculinity-boys/675172/
Yes. "Toxic Masculinity" does exist. But so does, as coined by the writer, "Heroic Masculinity."
So if you're a woman leaning towards "all men bad" or demanding behavior that doesn't acknowledge certain truths, or a man with "faux-masculinity" who leans towards "all women bad" and "poor me," this would be a really good one to read.
At the very least for the dudes, it offers something to aspire to. And women as well. "Heroic" isn't defined by gender.
My take is that you don't ever need to feel that, as a man, you should turn away or apologize from helping, protecting and defending others for fear of it being seen as "toxic." That's not it.