Index
Male Culture Men trapped in men’s bodies.
Male culture is a set of values and behaviors that often include a focus on power, competition, and achievement. It can also include a sense of toughness, stoicism, and risk-taking. Embedded in the socialization into male culture, which is pervasive in patriarchal societies, is the reliance on misogyny as a form of power in personal, social, economic and poltitical life. Toxic masculinity is a manifestation of male culture in it’s most raw form.
Values
- Competition: Valuing competition and rewarding success
- Power: Pursuing power and status
- Physical strength: Being strong and tough
- Self-reliance: Being self-sufficient and independent
- Risk-taking: Being willing to take chances
Norms
- Providing for others: Being responsible for the well-being of others
- Emotional toughness: Being able to withstand emotional pain
- Winning: Being victorious in competitions
- Dominance: Being socially and physically dominant
- Heroism: Being courageous and honorable
Examples
- Japan, Hungary, and Austria are examples of masculine cultures
- In the workplace, masculine defaults can include rewarding behaviors like assertiveness and risk-taking
How to avoid toxic masculinity:
- Avoid assigning chores based on gender
- Encourage boys and men to ask for help when they need it
- Encourage boys and men to listen to themselves and find out who they are