the masculine gender norms that are harmful to men, women and society as a whole.

Such an example is the excusing of bad behaviour, such as violence, control, misogynistic or sexist behaviour, in men as “boys being boys” or “playboy” behaviour. It may be other discriminatory behaviour – such as homophobia or transphobia – where a toxic masculine view is that they are not “man enough” or are a betrayal towards men.

Other such behaviours, such as a need for emotional control, priortising of work, dominance, risk-taking, extreme competitiveness and an incessant drive or preoccupation towards achieving social status have also been shown to result in poor health outcomes for men.

One particular example of toxic masculinity is the idea that men need to be emotionally strong at all times, which results in men fearing at being seen as emotionally weak – a “big boys don’t cry”/”man up” attitude of self-reliance and perceived toughness that has left men with high suicide rates and shorter lifespans, as they are less likely to discuss health problems, particularly mental health problems, with professionals or even friends and family, along with elevated rates of alcoholism.

Toxic masculine attitudes aren’t just possessed by men, however; they can be held by women too, particularly those who have been raised in a way that they accepted such attitudes and behaviours to be normal, and even desirable (that is, they’ve been raised to believe it’s how “real men” think and behave).

Despite the objections from some men about toxic masculinity, it does not refer – at all – to the idea that all masculine traits are bad or damaging. Indeed, there are great many masculine-associated traits that are desirable and healthy.