I write pretty frequently about feminism and feminist principles, but I don't generally talk too much about masculinity itself. Feminine/masculine are complete social fabrications, as such the traits contained within them are nearly completely arbitrary. For those of you who aren't sure what traits are included in each, check this out:
I think it should be pretty easy to see falling too much on either end of the spectrum between feminine and masculine is a bad thing. Someone can be highly masculine without necessarily being toxic. Masculinity only becomes toxic when it begins to have negative effects on people, including the one who is toxically masculine. Femininity can equally be unhealthy if taken too far. Too much of either is toxic, but toxic masculinity seems most relevant right now given Donald Trump's administration.
Trump's embodiment of masculinity is a huge part of why people voted for him in the first place. "Tough on immigration." "Tells it like it is." His constant belittling of his political opponents. The characterization of liberals as "snowflakes," fragile and easy to offend. Not being politically correct. His aggressive reactions to the press or other opponents. His assertion of power over others. These are all things that are undeniably Trump, if you find them repulsive or commendable is entirely up to you.
That said, they are all highly masculine traits. That is not itself bad, but Trump takes them to toxic extremes.
His toughness overwhelms empathy. It results in the abuse and inhumane treatment of others that prompted so many protests, especially regarding his travel ban.
His bluntness isn't fighting political correctness, it is overlooking the value of diplomacy and feeds into being verbally abusive of others. There are diplomatic or polite ways of saying things honestly, they just require more tact.
His belittling of others shows that as much as he demands respect, he refuses to give it unless someone is entirely submissive to him, and even then it's fickle.
By insulting others instead of engaging with their specific concerns or faults, he just hurls the most infantile of insults. His binary view of the world leaves people either with him or against him, a view that is harmful to the average person in their lives and possibly apocalyptic in a world leader.
His aggressiveness towards the press and political opponents isn't strength, it is the epitome of weakness. He tolerates no criticism no matter how valid, which means that it is nigh impossible for him to grow or improve.
Asserting power might feel good to the one in power, but it breeds discontent and resentment to those being stepped on. It's a brute force approach which answers the old question of if it is better to be loved or feared with hated. An iron fist might be powerful, but it crushes progress.
We can see daily how these toxic, hypermasculine traits dictate the Trump administration's positions and actions. This is the toxicity of characters like Biff from Back to the Future writ large and publically endorsed. Gender roles as a concept breed so many issues in society, but advancing such toxic masculinity is pushing for a culture in which "No" doesn't mean "No", where people's bodies and lives are not their own to live, where violence is an acceptable response to those who are different, etcetera.
That isn't the kind of world any of us would benefit from living in. Even if you are male, toxic masculinity contributes so heavily to male problems.
Trump's toxic masculinity isn't normal, it isn't okay, and should be fiercely resisted.
