Masculinity and femininity, which were once thought be powerful core values, are now embedded with immense toxicity. Toxic masculinity and femininity refer to the exaggerated gender stereotypes, causing harmful and drastic effects to the genders and society. Toxicity in genders has become a “trend” for new generation to follow, which in turn has been destroying our new generation’s individuals and our core values. Toxic masculine men tend to be emotionally suppressed, aggressive, violent, dominating, and reckless. Whereas toxic feminine women tend to be over expressive, emotionally manipulative, helpless and victim-playing.
Both toxicities are destroying the real meaning of masculinity and femininity, as being masculine means to protect and provide for family but also for himself, to be kind to himself and everyone and carrying a sense of integrity. And being feminine means to be nurturing, caring, flexible, adaptable, and compassionate.
Even if the gender stereotypes change over time and region, but the timeless image of masculinity remains to be “strength” “courage” and “durability” as femininity remains as the symbol of “nourishment” “growth” and “love.” Whatever the standards of today’s generation are to be “cool”, we must break the stereotypes and intoxicate the standards because if one gender loses the sight of its way, the other must guide him and if the generation corrupts itself then it’is the duty of the wise people among them and elder generation to correct them.
As toxicity is extremely dangerous and can cause numerous social and mental problems like anxiety, depression, social isolation, emotional manipulation, narcissism, dysmorphic, anorexia etc. Furthermore, to keep up with these standards, individuals refuse to accept that their mental health is affected and so, they do not take medical help. Keep in mind, that objectification of any gender and gender supremacy is unacceptable as it is against basic human rights. It is time to break toxic stereotypes by accepting men can expressive and emotional as well as women can be independent and resilient.
A “women” means to be powerful and strong yet kind at the same time, a woman’s kindness is strength and to adapt in adversity to strive for herself and her family. As a “man” means to accept oneself, to seek help and show emotions no matter what people say, because it takes great courage to accept yourself and man is a symbol of “courage” how could people stop a man from truly becoming himself?