Masculinity Framework Research and Health Effects

The term toxic masculinity is both misunderstood and inadequate. We present research on two different frameworks of masculinity and the effects on mental health outcomes.

In "Meta-Analyses of the Relationship Between Conformity to Masculine Norms and Mental Health-Related Outcomes” a sample size of ~20k individuals is studied that shows that conformity to traditional masculinity ideology defined on dimensions of winning, emotional control, risk-taking, violence, dominance, playboy, self-reliance, primacy of work, disdain for homosexuals, pursuit of status, power over women have statistically significant unfavorable outcomes on mental health and psychological help seeking. Primacy of work and and risk-taking are the only variables with some multi-directional forces because they can have some positive effects on finding purpose and expanding opportunity sets. The variables self-reliance, playboy, and power over women were consistently, significantly, robustly, and unfavorably associated with negative mental health, positive mental health, and psychological help seeking.

Contrast this with the research on positive masculine traits where men solve problems for their loved ones, sacrifice and provide for their families, stay calm in the face of adversity, display courage, power through obstacles (Kilmartin, 2010; Levant, 1995), and be fair, warm, and attentive fathers or role models (Kiselica et al., 2016). Positive masculine role norms may also represent men’s sense of duty, responsibility, desire to protect others, perseverance, justice orientation, generativity, loyalty, or resilience (Englar-Carlson & Kiselica, 2013; O’Neil et al., 2013; Roberts-Douglass & Curtis-Boles, 2013). Kiselica and colleagues (2016) further outlined 11 potential domains of positive masculinity developed from theory and qualitative research: male self-reliance; the worker–provider tradition of men; men’s respect for women; male courage, daring, and risk-taking; the group orientation of men and boys; male forms of service; men’s use of humor; and male heroism.

See the difference? Hopefully you can see the masculine dimensions to pursue and which ones to avoid. This should also help demonstrate that when we denigrate “toxic masculinity” we are not trying to tear down men, or "make men women", but rather eliminate the masculine dimensions that literally, by the numbers, harm men’s mental health and life outcomes.