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.
Reading the article, it pegs the author completely. He or she is the kind of person who would trade everything including her children's future and freedom for a single ounce of "safety".
People like her, are enemies of liberty, pure and simple. This does not include people who go along with this crap because they don't have the courage or sense to stand up and think for themselves. Those people are simply sheep, and there are a lot of them
This person is a malignant advocate and should be treated as such.
Clearly both.
“Toxic Masculinity” founded America.
i wore a mask yesterday at Walmart- it was EBT day and the place was packed with nee’r do wells.
Figured this was a moment for a mask. Usually I never wear them.
“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.”
The Greater Good....how Commie of this person.
your response made me laugh out loud. Well done!
So...does the author carry a firearm to protect others, you know, for the greater good?
I’m done with masks.
Eff these people.
L
I am in a very blue state this week, a state where a lot of people from blue states vacation.
In looking at the people wearing masks, I realized that I have no problem at all if someone older wears a mask. That should be their choice as part of an at-risk section, even if the mask really doesn’t do anything for them.
But I view younger people wearing masks indoors (but especially outdoors) with a great deal of contempt. Sheep, or worse than sheep.
...even in the face of a global pandemic that has killed more than 120,000 people in the United States alone...
During the Spanish Flu epidemic 600000 died (with a population one-third of what it is today), 200000 in the month of Oct 1918 alone.
The article suggests that conformist femininity is the real problem - guiding the behaviors of both females and males.
The Authors misandry is noted. They need to be sent for re-education.
See? That works both ways...
Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that many more men than women have worn masks as part of their blue collar jobs and know the limitations and use cases for them. Maybe it’s that men are more mechanically inclined and know that gaps around a one-size-fits-all N95 mask are going to let stuff slip right by and what does slip by leads right to the nostrils in a turbo charged way. Anyone who’s sanded a dark primer or paint and has had mask leakage around the edge knows about that. It leaves dark stripes on your face that lead straight to the nostrils. Those all fiber N95 masks don’t fit me well at all. My dust mask looks like a spray mask with silicon rubber frame and filter on each side and is medium in size.
It’s sad that N95 masks that were only certified for dust and particles suddenly became fine for biological purposes even though the fit issue is going to apply to at least half of all people, making them near useless. Those can be repurposed but not HCQ or Ivermectin that will actually save lives.
I dont wear a mask and a face shield for the greater good.
I wear them because I am high risk and not vaccinated and am trying to lessen the viral load. Then when I come home I try to kill off whatever got through my barriers
If I already had covid and knew my body would not try to kill me I would probably ditch them
But for now..I continue to try to evade COVID until it sweeps through the nation and mutates to a lesser version.
Actually, refusing to slavishly adhere to nonsensical authoritarian groupthink IS a masculine trait. Or at least I hope it is.
That article is gay.
I got your toxic masculinity right here, you toxic totalitarian POS.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.