Toxic masculinity is the man in the White House speaking derogatorily about anyone who isn't a white, heterosexual male just because he knows he can get away with it. But toxic masculinity is also present on a much smaller scale — and one much closer to home.
It's the boys in your sophomore geometry class calling your teacher a witch for doing her job.
It's a boy who sleeps around getting patted on the back, but a girl who does the same thing getting called "easy."
It's the guy who throws a fist at the bar just because he's drunk and looking for something to do.
It's the "treat them mean, keep them keen," mentality toward women.
Toxic masculinity is not texting her first because God forbid, you show human emotion other than anger.
Toxic masculinity is refusing to be affectionate because of your ego.
Toxic masculinity is calling a girl a bitch for turning you down, or a slut for not.
It is believing you are entitled to a girl who makes you feel good about yourself when you make no effort to do the same for her.
It is getting angry just because you can, or making someone feel inferior just because you can, or tossing people aside in hopes of achieving things you think you are entitled to.
News flash: you aren't entitled to anything.
Small-scale toxic masculinity turns into large-scale toxic masculinity which turns into even larger-scale issues like those we are dealing with across the country right now. Issues that we wouldn't be dealing with if that small-scale toxic masculinity had been squashed before it turned into something we call the president.
Right now, toxic masculinity is in headlines everywhere you turn, articles everywhere you look, front pages of newspapers, and top stories on TV channels. And in every one of these locations, it comes paired with the name of our current president.
And yes, he is a prime example of toxic masculinity. And yes, it should be plastered everywhere precisely the way that it is. But no, you should not be focusing on his toxic masculinity in order to ignore your own.
This moment in history, right here right now, needs to be a call-to-action. Not only on a national level that takes on the problems we are facing as we face them but also on a personal level. It needs to be a call-to-action that forces us into self-reflection and examination, and ultimately realignment. It needs to be driving us to re-consider the things about ourselves that negate wellbeing on a bigger scale. One of these things being toxic masculinity.
So, take a minute to look at yourself. Take a minute to analyze your words, actions, and reflexes. Analyze your thought-process. Call yourself into question. This is the only way we truly learn to grow.
Toxic masculinity is in the White House. This we know.
But it might be in you, too.
