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Problematising ‘Toxic’ and ‘Healthy’ Masculinity for Addressing Gender Inequalities

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Problematising ‘Toxic’ and ‘Healthy’ Masculinity for Addressing Gender Inequalities. / Waling, Andrea.
In: Australian Feminist Studies, Vol. 34, No. 101, 03.07.2019, p. 362-375.

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Waling A. Problematising ‘Toxic’ and ‘Healthy’ Masculinity for Addressing Gender Inequalities. Australian Feminist Studies. 2019 Jul 3;34(101):362-375. doi: 10.1080/08164649.2019.1679021

Author

Waling, Andrea. / Problematising ‘Toxic’ and ‘Healthy’ Masculinity for Addressing Gender Inequalities. In: Australian Feminist Studies. 2019 ; Vol. 34, No. 101. pp. 362-375.

Bibtex

@article{8f303630473e4856bd24e9ee0edfc625,
title = "Problematising {\textquoteleft}Toxic{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}Healthy{\textquoteright} Masculinity for Addressing Gender Inequalities",
abstract = "This article discusses the emergence of {\textquoteleft}toxic{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}healthy masculinity{\textquoteright} in public discourse in addressing gender inequalities. {\textquoteleft}Toxic{\textquoteright} has emerged through greater awareness of men{\textquoteright}s violence against women, and men{\textquoteright}s high rates of health distress and lack of help-seeking. {\textquoteleft}Healthy{\textquoteright} is thus a response to {\textquoteleft}toxic masculinity{\textquoteright}, attempting to encourage men to engage in expressions of masculinity that are not harmful to others, or themselves as a way to address gender inequalities. This article argues that in using a term such as {\textquoteleft}toxic masculinity{\textquoteright}, we continue to position men as victims of a broader vague entity rather than highlighting their agency in the reproduction of masculinity. Equally, in using a term such as {\textquoteleft}healthy masculinity{\textquoteright}, we continue to set masculinity up as the only expression of gender that men can legitimately engage in, thus reinforcing the notion that femininity (and by extension, androgyny) remains a less valued, and less legitimate, expression of gender. In doing so, {\textquoteleft}toxic{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}healthy masculinity{\textquoteright} continue to reproduce, rather than address gender inequalities, and do not support the breaking down of gender binaries.",
keywords = "Masculinity, gender inequality, healthy, hegemonic, toxic",
author = "Andrea Waling",
year = "2019",
month = jul,
day = "3",
doi = "10.1080/08164649.2019.1679021",
language = "English",
volume = "34",
pages = "362--375",
journal = "Australian Feminist Studies",
issn = "0816-4649",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "101",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Problematising ‘Toxic’ and ‘Healthy’ Masculinity for Addressing Gender Inequalities

AU - Waling, Andrea

PY - 2019/7/3

Y1 - 2019/7/3

N2 - This article discusses the emergence of ‘toxic’ and ‘healthy masculinity’ in public discourse in addressing gender inequalities. ‘Toxic’ has emerged through greater awareness of men’s violence against women, and men’s high rates of health distress and lack of help-seeking. ‘Healthy’ is thus a response to ‘toxic masculinity’, attempting to encourage men to engage in expressions of masculinity that are not harmful to others, or themselves as a way to address gender inequalities. This article argues that in using a term such as ‘toxic masculinity’, we continue to position men as victims of a broader vague entity rather than highlighting their agency in the reproduction of masculinity. Equally, in using a term such as ‘healthy masculinity’, we continue to set masculinity up as the only expression of gender that men can legitimately engage in, thus reinforcing the notion that femininity (and by extension, androgyny) remains a less valued, and less legitimate, expression of gender. In doing so, ‘toxic’ and ‘healthy masculinity’ continue to reproduce, rather than address gender inequalities, and do not support the breaking down of gender binaries.

AB - This article discusses the emergence of ‘toxic’ and ‘healthy masculinity’ in public discourse in addressing gender inequalities. ‘Toxic’ has emerged through greater awareness of men’s violence against women, and men’s high rates of health distress and lack of help-seeking. ‘Healthy’ is thus a response to ‘toxic masculinity’, attempting to encourage men to engage in expressions of masculinity that are not harmful to others, or themselves as a way to address gender inequalities. This article argues that in using a term such as ‘toxic masculinity’, we continue to position men as victims of a broader vague entity rather than highlighting their agency in the reproduction of masculinity. Equally, in using a term such as ‘healthy masculinity’, we continue to set masculinity up as the only expression of gender that men can legitimately engage in, thus reinforcing the notion that femininity (and by extension, androgyny) remains a less valued, and less legitimate, expression of gender. In doing so, ‘toxic’ and ‘healthy masculinity’ continue to reproduce, rather than address gender inequalities, and do not support the breaking down of gender binaries.

KW - Masculinity

KW - gender inequality

KW - healthy

KW - hegemonic

KW - toxic

U2 - 10.1080/08164649.2019.1679021

DO - 10.1080/08164649.2019.1679021

M3 - Journal article

VL - 34

SP - 362

EP - 375

JO - Australian Feminist Studies

JF - Australian Feminist Studies

SN - 0816-4649

IS - 101

ER -