Posted on 08/03/2021 6:17:58 AM PDT by millenial4freedom
Over the past months, many states and the federal government have advised or even required individuals to wear masks in order to stop or slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Taking this relatively small step can significantly reduce the potential of virus transmission — serving as an effective way to protect both ourselves and others.
Wearing a face covering of some sort seems like an easy choice to make for the greater good (provided, of course, that you do not have a disability that makes you unable to wear a mask). Yet this pandemic has illuminated another way in which toxic masculinity can be harmful: an idea has somehow emerged among men that wearing a mask makes them appear weak.
In May, American and British researchers conducted a survey of 2,459 Americans, aged 18 to over 65. The results demonstrated that when it comes to wearing face masks, there were serious differences between men and women. The researchers found that men were far less likely to wear a face covering, particularly in areas where wearing one was not mandatory. This inclination was not based on a person’s subjective belief as to whether they were likely to get – or transmit – coronavirus, although the men who participated in the survey were more likely than the woman to believe that they would easily recover from the virus. Instead, this difference can be attributed to what men believed about wearing face masks — that it was not cool, shameful, or a sign of weakness.
Separately, a Gallup poll found that women were far more likely than men (44% to 29%) to always wear a face mask outside of the home. Men were also more likely to never wear a mask outside of their home, by a margin of 38 to 25%.
These surveys demonstrate that toxic masculinity — once again — is dangerous to all of us. Toxic masculinity is a type of masculinity that encourages strict adherence to gender roles for men, which can be limiting and harmful. All forms of masculinity are NOT toxic. However, there is a certain ideal of masculinity in our culture that IS toxic. This type of masculinity places strength and power as the ideals of manliness, and views anything perceived as stereotypically feminine as unacceptable.
This brings us back to wearing masks. Numerous studies have found that if the majority of people wore masks, it would drastically reduce the number of COVID-19 infections. Despite this, many men are reluctant to wear masks — even in the face of a global pandemic that has killed more than 120,000 people in the United States alone and led to a worldwide economic collapse. The primary reason given for not wanting to wear masks is textbook toxic masculinity: they don’t want to appear weak. This reasoning is particularly disturbing in light of research that shows that men are more than twice as likely to die of coronavirus than women, regardless of age.
We know that toxic masculinity is harmful to men in a number of ways: it is linked to health problems, a higher rate of suicide and self-harming behaviors, and increased crime (including domestic and sexual violence). Refusing to wear a mask out because you’ll feel “weak” or less manly is just the latest way that toxic masculinity is bad for men.
Many men don’t consciously subscribe to this ideal of manhood. Instead, it has been engrained in them from a young age, when boys are often pressured to suppress their emotions (“boys don’t cry”) or to show strength (“man up!”). It can be difficult to break free from a lifetime of cultural conditioning that tells you that the only way to be a man is to never show any emotion other than anger and to always project strength and power. But it isn’t impossible — you can take steps to “break out of the man box” and live life on your own terms. You can also work to ensure that the next generation doesn’t absorb these gender norms, enabling boys and young men to live more full (and healthy) lives.
Wearing a mask isn’t weak — it is the ultimate show of strength. When you put on a mask, you are demonstrating that you are strong enough to endure a bit of physical discomfort to protect the greater good.
If you would like to learn more about how you can dismantle toxic masculinity in your own life, check out our Fearless Advocacy for Men’s Engagement (FAME) group. Parents, caregivers and educators can help their kids develop a sense of individuality — apart from gender norms — through our empathy series, which is now available online. We know that it isn’t easy to make these kinds of changes — but it is and will be worth it.
It also shows you're a f'in idiot for using a chain-link fence to stop a sandstorm.
“Toxic masculinity” is just the phrase liberals use instead of “racism” when they can’t remotely call whatever they don’t like “racism.”
It’s just noise.
Masculinity is only toxic to NPCs.
It’s like garlic to vampires. Standing up for yourself and not being a doormat political correctness and social control should seem very toxic I would imagine.
It’s only toxic if it kills you or causes a near death experience.
Wearing a mask to stop transmission of the CCPvirus is just as effective as using a chain link fence to stop the infiltration of mosquitoes into one’s yard.
Lie:
“Taking this relatively small step can significantly reduce the potential of virus transmission — serving as an effective way to protect both ourselves and others.”
Never proved by anyone, anywhere, ever.
Seems to me western women are making the transition to Sharia Law quite easily. They may call them “masks,” but it’s merely a veil by another name. When will the CDC start pushing women to wear “protective garments” aka burkas?
I don’t wear a mask because when articles like this are posted without a barf alert I risk choking on my own vomit.
******..Wearing a mask isn’t weak — it is the ultimate show of strength. When you put on a mask, you are demonstrating that you are strong enough to endure a bit of physical discomfort to protect the greater good.******
And there it is-—Marxism in a nutshell. Individuality is gone and it’s for “the common/greater good”. Group think is dangerous and I see it happening with the woke idiots where I work.
“Since 1976, Blackburn Center has been providing services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and other types of violence and crime in Westmoreland County...”
So...what does the Blackburn Center consider “not wearing a mask”? Violence? Crime? Or both...?
The author, whomever it was, is a faggot. Or a purple haired dyke.
I am disgusted by the number of low-T men I see gallivanting around with masks on.
“Separately, a Gallup poll found that women were far more likely than men (44% to 29%) to always wear a face mask outside of the home. Men were also more likely to never wear a mask outside of their home, by a margin of 38 to 25%.”
Trying to follow the author’s reasoning. So women are 3/4 as likely to be toxically masculine as men? A simpler understanding is that the nameless author is just a bigot who find evidence of their bias everywhere and anywhere. Because that’s what bigots do.
The feminization has caused cowards to wear a mask while in the ocean, in their car alone, while walking outside, and in the shower.
Stupid little girls who want to belong to the little girl’s club.
Get your hip waders on, the manure is deep in this article.
Complete utter:
🐂💨💩
And idiot women letting their children try to breathe with dirty cloths strapped to their faces all day, are NOT protecting them.
Masks do absolutely NOTHING to prevent viruses (which are microscopic and pass right through them).
Will these people EVER stop lying and trying to force people to breathe dirty air?
“Toxic masculinity” is left-speak for “rational.” I’m a woman, and I can’t tell you how any times my choices have been attributed to it.
I’d laugh if it weren’t such a corruption of thought and language. See my tag line.
I’m not a male, so where does that leave me?
One thing I do know is that this sentence… “When you put on a mask, you are demonstrating that you are strong enough to endure a bit of physical discomfort to protect the greater good.”…makes me want to go out and not only not wear a mask, but slap somebody who is wearing one.
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