Toxic Masculinity Worksheet

Toxic masculinity consists of three fundamental elements:

Resilience: The belief that men should exhibit physical strength, emotional toughness, and behavioral aggression.
Antifemininity: The notion that men should discard anything perceived as feminine, such as displaying emotions or seeking assistance.
Power: Men should strive to attain power and status (both social and financial) to earn the respect of others.

Here are some of the interesting research findings about toxic masculinity:

Boys of various races and ethnicities who do not conform to traditional expectations of masculinity might face harassment in a school setting.

Men with the strongest convictions about masculinity were only half as likely as those with more moderate beliefs about masculinity to seek preventive healthcare, medical assistance, or psychotherapy.

Toxic masculinity may hinder men from comforting a victim, seeking assistance, and confronting the perpetrator. Men who embraced the notion that masculinity should be characterized by strength and aggressiveness were more inclined to anticipate adverse social repercussions linked to intervening as an engaged bystander.

Some examples of toxic masculinity are:

When a boy sheds tears, and his father instructs him to "toughen up" or asserts that "men don't cry."
When a man dictates what his partner can or cannot wear and controls their social interactions.
When a man refrains from being emotionally open with his partner due to the fear of appearing "weak."

Psychotherapy plays a key role in aiding men to confront and overcome toxic masculinity through the cultivation of self-awareness, encouragement of healthier behaviors, and the questioning of detrimental beliefs.

References

Morin, A. (2022). What Is Toxic Masculinity? Retrieved from: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-toxic-masculinity-5075107, on January 17, 2024.

Vallie, S. (2022). What Is Toxic Masculinity? Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/what-is-toxic-masculinity, on January 17, 2024.

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Please note: There may be a more up-to-date and editable version of this worksheet available here which may be more suitable to present to clients if you are a therapist or to use in a classroom as a teacher or guidance counsellor.