masculinity
What to know
Masculinity refers to a set of attributes and behaviors traditionally associated with men and boys. In a US context, examples of conventional “masculine” traits include short hair, muscularity, specific clothing choices, and characteristics such as “toughness” or an instinct to take control. Masculinity is often described as proactive, aggressive, structured, or direct. It is not inherently negative or positive and has no fixed meaning.
Gender dynamics
Biology is a factor that shapes both the experience of masculinity and how we make sense of it. There is also research that suggests children learn male and female gender “schema” from the social contexts in which they live, beginning at an early age. Like any gender identity or expression, masculinity is formed in part through explicit and unspoken relationships to power. Thoughtful coverage will consider the range of forces that shape how boyhood and manhood are defined and embodied, including the ways that “sex differences can be magnified or muted by culture,” in the words of Richard Reeves in the 2023 book, Of Boys and Men.
The evolution of masculinity
The concept of masculinity has evolved in tandem with shifting gender roles over time. Historically, conventional masculinity was associated with physical strength and dominance, deriving from the expectation that men provide financially for their families and serve as physical protectors. Admirable male characters were often portrayed in film and television as heroes saving people, particularly women, from danger or bad actors (i.e. the damsel in distress).
Today, a more expansive take on masculinity places emphasis on emotional intelligence, kindness, and social responsibility, reflecting shifting caregiving responsibilities in the home and changes in the labor force. Masculinity can be expressed through strength and vulnerability, as well as mutual support, rather than suppressing emotion or going it alone. Formal and informal men’s groups are emerging to create community for men navigating their masculinity and roles in the world. Reporting on these developments can counter stereotypes and reflect the diverse ways that a person can “act like a man.”
Masculinity and queerness
Masculine, or “masc,” is also a way queer people who exhibit behavior that is traditionally associated with men may refer to themselves or one another (e.g., a masc lesbian, the clone culture of the 1970s, various camp masculinities).
Metrosexuality — a term that became popular in the ‘90s and early 2000s — revealed the influence of queer masculinities and a growing openness among men to exploring attributes that were historically considered feminine, such as grooming and fashion. Whether through femme-coded garments or whole expressive traditions, like the impeccable flamboyance of Black dandyism, the constant reimagining of masculinity through style continues today.
Patriarchy and toxic masculinity
As understood in gender studies scholarship, some qualities of masculinity have been constructed within a patriarchal power structure that pressures men to act a certain way or risk being ostracized. Certain negative manifestations have been described as “toxic masculinity,” which can result in valorizing physical and mental “toughness,” suppressing emotion, violence as an exertion of power, misogyny, or homophobia. Using the term “toxic masculinity” indiscriminately, without identifying specific behaviors or consequences, can be vague and misleading, implying that all or only men fall into those patterns.
Aspects of the men’s rights movement and its digital manifestations in parts of the “manosphere” are rooted in a backlash to progress toward gender equality, framing men as victims of gender-based discrimination who seek a return to hierarchies of the past. These ideas have galvanized and garnered more attention with the rise of conservative politics and the 2024 US presidential election, in which young men of the so-called “bro vote” swung right. Using precise language to describe the beliefs and aims of the men’s rights movement and manosphere can help avoid conflating it with movements that support gender equality, the liberation of marginalized genders, and genuine concern for the well-being of boys and men.
An online subculture associated with the men’s rights movement is made up of those who self-identify as “incels,” or “involuntary celibates.” This view is rooted in misogyny and male supremacy (and sometimes white supremacy); it rejects the sexual agency of women and has inspired acts of real-life gender-based violence. Not linking directly to hate speech reflecting this view, and immediately countering false claims, avoids amplifying its messages.
Supporting men
Critics of narrow views of masculinity say that reducing manhood to negative and toxic traits fails to address or support boys and men facing real struggles in education, employment, mental health and more. In 2022, young women in every US state were more likely than their male counterparts to have a bachelor’s degree and graduate high school on time. Black men and boys are especially impacted by these phenomena. Experts say that young men are looking for role models and positive guidance on their place in the world, and because of that, right-wing ideologies have found an opportunity to grow their support base — especially because they tend to frame masculinity as aspirational versus toxic.
In order to minimize harm across the board, journalists looking to cover “good masculinity” and programs that support it should take care to frame their stories within the context of evolving gender dynamics, without sanitizing what experts say is an ever-fragile state of women’s rights and the feminist movement. Highlighting the disparities between different groups of men, particularly based on sexual orientation, class, or race, is also critical to providing readers with the most accurate picture of the challenges and opportunities facing men and boys today.
Additional resources
- APA issues first-ever guidelines for practice with men and boys (American Psychological Association)
- Raising Boys With a Broader Definition of Masculinity (The Atlantic)
Summary
Masculinity refers to the set of attributes and behaviors traditionally associated with men and boys. It is not inherently negative or positive and has no fixed meaning. Historically, masculinity was associated with physical strength and dominance. A more expansive view of masculinity places emphasis on emotional intelligence and social responsibility. Certain negative manifestations of masculinity can result in valorizing physical and mental “toughness,” suppressing emotion, violence as a precursor to power, internalizing misogyny, or being homophobic. Critics say the conversation around masculinity has become too focused on its negativity, leading to a lack of attention to and support for boys and men facing struggles in education, employment, mental health and more.