"Toxic Masculinity" – Or Misunderstood Masculinity?

Contents

---

Introduction: What Are We Really Saying?

The phrase "toxic masculinity" is thrown around often—sometimes with reason, but more often as a blunt tool used to shame or suppress certain male behaviours. Assertiveness becomes aggression. Stoicism becomes emotional repression. Leadership becomes domination.

But masculinity is not the enemy. It's time we ask: are we rejecting the shadow of masculinity—or masculinity itself? Because if we continue erasing its virtues, we risk creating generations of men who are disconnected from their nature, aimless, and ashamed of their instincts.

We are living through a time of institutional decay and narrative collapse. When the centre cannot hold, we need strong individuals—particularly strong men—capable of bearing weight, creating order, and restoring integrity.

If we continue pretending masculinity has no place, we risk losing the very qualities we turn to in times of crisis.

---

Men are often criticised for being emotionally unavailable or closed off. But stoicism—when understood correctly—is not about bottling emotions; it's about emotional regulation. Psychology recognises that people cope differently. Men, on average, have a natural preference to internalise stress and solve problems through action rather than verbal expression.

Consider a firefighter running into a burning building. Do we want him breaking down emotionally, or do we want him focused and composed under pressure? This form of psychological resistance to emotionality is a hallmark of traditional masculine energy—and it's invaluable in crisis.

That said, we must also be cautious not to idealise emotional suppression in the name of strength without valid higher purpose. Repressing feelings under the guise of stoicism, or confusing entitlement and control with masculinity, is one factor that leads to emotional harm.

---

Average testosterone levels in men have been steadily declining over the past several decades. This is a societal issue camouflaged as a health issue. Testosterone is not merely a hormone tied to aggression or libido; it fuels our drive, risk-taking, competitiveness, and innovation.

Low testosterone impacts confidence, motivation, mood, and even a man's willingness to challenge himself. A generation of men lacking in this core biological fire may become passive, indecisive, or unable to bear long-term responsibility.

These traits, when left unguided, can become destructive—but when channelled with purpose, they lead to innovation, leadership, and strength. The same drive that makes a young man want to win at sports can be redirected into business, martial arts, or personal mastery.

We need to stop requiring masculine traits to be filtered through femininity before they're accepted. Aggression, for instance, is only praised when used in defence of others—but never as a raw, motivating energy. Yet that same aggression, when given structure, has built businesses, protected nations, and defended families.

---

Evolution shaped men for hunting, defending, and enduring. The traits we associate with masculinity—strength, competitiveness, focus, risk-taking—were vital for group survival. These traits are still relevant.

Look at natural disasters or acts of terror—more often than not, it's men who run toward danger. First responders. Military personnel. Bodyguards. It is deeply ingrained within a man's DNA to fight for a cause. This is an archetype our society still depends on, even if it no longer honours these men.

And yet, we often struggle to praise these roles unless they are softened by emotional vulnerability or care work. Why must a man be both a warrior and a nurturer to be validated? Isn't the warrior valuable in his own right?

---

Across cultures, boys became men through rites of passage—ceremonies that tested their endurance, courage, and integrity. Today, most young men move into adulthood with no direction. No initiation. No elders.

This isn't a masculinity problem. It's a mentorship problem. We need spaces—both literal and digital—where men can be challenged, tested, and mentored into maturity. Not just told what not to do, but shown and led by example of what to become.

---

Today's young men are not just economically strained—they're being raised into a dystopian version of adulthood. With rising living costs, unaffordable housing, and a lack of upward mobility, many feel they've been handed a broken system.

In the absence of meaningful paths to stability, some are turning to high-risk speculation in stocks, crypto—not out of greed, but out of necessity. They aren't trying to beat the system—they're trying to escape it.

There's also a psychoanalytic lens worth exploring. In Freudian psychology, the absence of the "father figure" represents not just a missing parent—but the missing force of structure, boundaries, and initiation into adult responsibility. Without that force, the ego doesn't integrate healthily—it fractures.

---

Beyond financial stress, another hidden force driving disillusionment is digital humiliation—where social media, meme culture, and dating apps create a hypercompetitive environment that leaves many men feeling invisible and unwanted.

The rise of rage-bait content, especially aimed at men, is not accidental. Viral posts and memes, such as "6 feet tall, 6 figures, 6 inches" set impossible standards and mock the average man. Imagine the harm this does to young boys who now feel the pressure to accumulate a lifetime's worth of experience and resources before they turn 18.

This digital rejection feeds the belief that masculinity is worthless unless it meets extreme status, aesthetic or financial benchmarks. The algorithm becomes the judge, and most men are silently told: "You don't matter."

A 2022 study by the Pew Research Center found that men who engage with online men's rights and manosphere forums are disproportionately younger, less educated, and more likely to be underemployed. Many come from working-class or economically strained backgrounds.

---

Social media hasn't just mocked masculinity—it has commodified intimacy. Platforms like OnlyFans have shifted the power dynamic around sexuality. For young men who struggle with real-world confidence or connection, this commodification can breed confusion, resentment, or obsession.

And at the core of this digital distortion is pornography. Most boys today are exposed to it during their most formative years—before their first kiss, date, or relationship. What was once an innocent exploration of sexuality is now hijacked by a hyper-stimulating, digitally weaponised version of intimacy.

At its worst, it teaches boys that domination is intimacy, and that affection can only be earned through performance, power, transactions or even worse—by entitlement and force.

---

Behind many of the crises facing young men is one silent epidemic: fatherlessness. Boys who grow up without a consistent, strong male role model often struggle to develop identity, emotional regulation, and a healthy sense of masculinity.

This is not the fault of mothers—it's a recognition of what is missing: structured masculine energy passed from elder to youth.

With the traditional family unit breaking down and mentorship structures dissolving, young men are increasingly turning to the internet for guidance. Influencers like Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, or other red pill commentators become digital father figures—not because they're perfect, but because they fill a vacuum.

---

In many progressive narratives, the "ideal man" has quietly shifted. He is cooperative, emotionally expressive, non-confrontational, and above all, soft. While there's value in emotional intelligence, the problem arises when masculine virtues like courage, dominance, and ferocity are not just discouraged—but demonised.

We're told men should be more sensitive, but rarely are they told to be more resilient. We're encouraged to teach boys to be kind, but seldom to be dangerous with discipline. This cultural imbalance breeds confusion and suppression of instincts.

---

Feminism has, in many ways, achieved necessary progress. But as we advance, we must be cautious not to frame masculinity as the enemy of womanhood. In truth, refined masculinity is one of the greatest gifts to women.

Strong men create safety—not just physically, but emotionally, socially, and spiritually. A man rooted in values protects his partner, leads his family, and creates stable environments for children to flourish.

True partnership isn't found in sameness. It's found in mutual respect between strength and softness, between masculine and feminine.

---

There is a growing narrative that equates traditional masculinity with oppression. Yet history shows that strong, honourable men are the ones who sacrifice themselves for their families, communities, and causes greater than themselves.

So who benefits when men are passive, confused, and ashamed of their own nature? The answer is: no one—except those who want power without resistance.

Without alternative models of strength, disenfranchised young men will seek it wherever they can find it. If we don't offer those things in healthier, honourable forms, the vacuum will be filled by the extreme.

---

Masculinity is not a trend to be discarded. It is a pillar of our civilisation. It must be remembered again and reborn into modern society.

Let us raise men who are grounded, not lost. Dangerous, but disciplined. Strong, but safe. And above all—honourable.

Make Your Ancestors Proud. ⚔️