Is Masculinity Toxic? | Andrew Smiler

This timely title weighs masculinity's capacity for good against its potential for destruction in the context of contemporary debates on the topic. In the wake of the #MeToo movement and the upsurge in feminist and men’s rights activism, traditional masculinity has become a topic of impassioned debate. But what exactly do we mean by ‘masculinity’ and in what ways can it be said to be harmful? This incisive volume evaluates modern masculinity’s capacity for good against its potential for destruction. It reviews evolving definitions of masculinity since the age of chivalry and examines our current expectations about men’s behaviours, roles and responsibilities. It reveals societal pressure on men to act aggressively, suppress emotion and be in control, and the impact of being a ‘real man’ on self and others.Table of ContentsIntroduction - Evolving Understandings of Masculinity - Masculine Power to Harm - Men and Interpersonal Relationships - The Changing Face of Masculinity Today - Conclusion