0:00:00.026,0:00:02.224 During your travels around the internet,[br] 0:00:02.224,0:00:04.114 you may have bumped into the term 0:00:04.114,0:00:05.793 “Toxic Masculinity.” 0:00:06.101,0:00:07.991 It usually shows up in connection with 0:00:08.005,0:00:09.976 particularly abusive male behavior-- 0:00:09.976,0:00:14.616 so, things like harassment, homophobia,[br]sexism, or violent outbursts. 0:00:14.635,0:00:16.704 But what does it really mean? 0:00:16.704,0:00:18.725 Well, let’s find out. 0:00:18.725,0:00:20.796 (Intro music) 0:00:27.147,0:00:30.611 Now, since there tends to be so much[br]confusion and defensiveness 0:00:30.611,0:00:32.925 surrounding these two words, I think 0:00:32.925,0:00:36.235 we might need to start off with a really[br]clear example. You know, something 0:00:36.235,0:00:38.691 that we can all agree on. 0:00:38.701,0:00:40.041 Okay, yeah. 0:00:40.085,0:00:42.715 but honestly I think he needs his own video 0:00:42.715,0:00:44.796 so maybe something else would-- 0:00:44.796,0:00:45.851 Biff: What do you think you’re doing?! 0:00:45.851,0:00:47.271 ---- ok, that’s gonna work. 0:00:47.297,0:00:51.007 This charming fellow is Biff from[br]the Back to the Future series. 0:00:51.015,0:00:59.195 Biff: Hello, hello, anybody home? 0:00:59.195,0:01:01.157 Biff: Huh? Think, McFly, think! 0:01:01.397,0:01:04.577 Ok, so let’s start with the word[br]masculinity itself. 0:01:04.959,0:01:09.779 Very broadly speaking, masculinity is[br]a set of behaviors and practices that 0:01:09.833,0:01:13.413 have traditionally been associated[br]with men and manhood in our culture. 0:01:13.435,0:01:16.625 And that includes both[br]positive and negative things. 0:01:16.627,0:01:18.679 “Toxic masculinity,” on the other hand, 0:01:18.679,0:01:22.599 is a loose term that’s used to refer[br]to a subset of those behaviors 0:01:22.610,0:01:24.560 which are harmful or destructive. 0:01:24.570,0:01:26.260 It’s often used as a sort of shorthand 0:01:26.275,0:01:30.305 to describe behaviors linked to[br]domination, humiliation, and control. 0:01:30.310,0:01:34.230 It’s marked by things like emotional[br]detachment and hyper-competitiveness -- 0:01:34.697,0:01:37.407 Lorraine: Look Biff, somebody already[br]asked me to the dance.[br] 0:01:37.433,0:01:39.693 Biff: Who? That bug George McFly? 0:01:39.693,0:01:43.051 Lorraine: I’m going with Calvin Klein, ok? 0:01:43.104,0:01:47.094 Biff: Calvin Klein? No, it’s not okay.[br]You’re going with me. Understand? [br] 0:01:47.278,0:01:48.808 Lorraine: Get your cooties off of me! 0:01:48.808,0:01:52.488 Biff: When are you gonna get it through your[br]thick skull, Lorraine? You’re my girl. 0:01:52.685,0:01:56.635 It’s also connected to the sexual[br]objectification of women, as well as[br] 0:01:56.638,0:01:59.238 other predatory sexual behaviors. 0:01:59.425,0:02:01.445 Biff: You know you want me to give it to you. 0:02:01.471,0:02:04.921 Lorraine: Shut your filthy mouth.[br]I’m not that kind of girl![br] 0:02:05.068,0:02:08.138 Biff: Well maybe you are, and you[br]just don’t know it yet. 0:02:08.748,0:02:13.178 Jonathan: It’s also linked very closely with[br]aggression, intimidation, and violence. 0:02:13.745,0:02:15.675 Biff: Do you wanna take a poke at me? 0:02:20.978,0:02:23.348 The modifier “toxic” is used to highlight 0:02:23.359,0:02:25.601 the fact that these kinds of behaviors 0:02:25.601,0:02:29.581 carry with them some potentially serious[br]and even deadly consequences. 0:02:30.950,0:02:35.180 Much of this type of masculinity is[br]relational, and as such, it's mostly 0:02:35.180,0:02:39.290 defined in opposition to anything[br]culturally associated with women. 0:02:39.400,0:02:44.860 Which is why toxic masculinity is driven[br]by this overwhelming fear of emasculation, 0:02:44.964,0:02:50.474 that is to say the fear of being perceived by[br]others as “feminine” and therefore “unmanly.” 0:02:50.619,0:02:54.797 Many of the most popular male heroes in[br]movies are depicted as engaging in 0:02:54.797,0:02:57.067 at least a few of these toxic behaviors. 0:02:59.123,0:03:02.443 James: There, now let’s both play.[br] 0:03:03.726,0:03:05.686 Jonathan: But because they’re the good guys, 0:03:05.692,0:03:10.342 their actions are framed as admirable[br]displays of strength, power, and manhood. 0:03:20.355,0:03:21.866 James: Dink, meet Felix Leiter. 0:03:21.866,0:03:22.739 Dink: Hello. 0:03:22.739,0:03:23.952 James: Felix, say hello to Dink. 0:03:23.952,0:03:24.712 Felix: Hi, Dink. 0:03:24.722,0:03:26.102 James: Dink, say goodbye to Felix. 0:03:26.111,0:03:29.321 Dink: Hmm?[br]James: Man talk. 0:03:30.128,0:03:31.363 Jennifer: It’s like Doc’s always saying-- 0:03:31.363,0:03:34.333 Marty: Yeah yeah, I know: “If you put your[br]mind to it, you can accomplish anything.” 0:03:34.355,0:03:35.565 Jonathan: And even when those behaviors 0:03:35.598,0:03:40.178 are not celebrated, it’s often framed as[br]acceptable or normal and then excused 0:03:40.178,0:03:43.538 as just “guys being guys” or “boys being boys.” 0:03:44.967,0:03:47.557 Just to make sure there’s no misunderstanding 0:03:47.599,0:03:50.069 I want to make something absolutely clear. 0:03:50.126,0:03:54.116 This term is not a condemnation[br]of men or manhood. 0:03:54.192,0:03:59.582 Because again “toxic masculinity” only[br]refers to a particular set of harmful 0:03:59.628,0:04:01.766 actions and cultural practices. 0:04:01.766,0:04:06.266 And none of those behaviors are inherent[br]or biological traits of men. 0:04:06.270,0:04:09.390 There is nothing toxic about just being a man, 0:04:09.416,0:04:12.540 but some men do act in toxic ways. 0:04:12.540,0:04:16.480 So in other words “toxic masculinity” is[br]not something that men ARE, 0:04:16.512,0:04:19.622 but rather it’s something that some men DO. 0:04:19.641,0:04:22.041 Alright. So, let’s return to our friend Biff here. [br] 0:04:22.071,0:04:24.380 Now Biff is an obvious buffoon. 0:04:24.380,0:04:27.600 I mean, he's a schoolyard bully.[br]He’s like a cartoon villain. 0:04:27.618,0:04:31.365 His actions are easy to spot and[br]understand as damaging because 0:04:31.365,0:04:35.045 really toxic masculinity is what[br]defines him as a character. 0:04:38.047,0:04:40.927 Biff: You heard him, girls. Party’s over. 0:04:41.392,0:04:45.232 At every point in Back to the Future[br]there might as well be a giant neon sign 0:04:45.260,0:04:48.720 hanging over Biff’s head that says,[br]“Hey, this is the bad guy.” 0:04:48.734,0:04:52.814 So that’s really easy, but things[br]are rarely so clear cut. 0:04:52.864,0:04:57.424 In the real world all kinds of men can[br]participate in toxic masculinity. 0:04:57.424,0:05:03.243 Including seemingly normal guys who might[br]also be nerdy or charming or witty or intelligent. 0:05:03.243,0:05:09.056 Since toxic masculinity is a set of behaviors,[br]and not a biological trait, the real men who 0:05:09.056,0:05:12.986 participate are not really one dimensional[br]character archetypes like Biff. 0:05:13.014,0:05:16.064 And they usually don’t do all of the things on the list. 0:05:16.092,0:05:20.712 Okay, well, sometimes they do,[br]but usually that’s not the case. 0:05:26.596,0:05:28.336 There is a mistaken impression out there 0:05:28.336,0:05:33.063 that “toxic masculinity” means that everything[br]about masculinity is somehow toxic. 0:05:33.095,0:05:35.020 But that is not the case. 0:05:35.020,0:05:41.130 In fact, the term “toxic masculinity” is used[br]very deliberately to try to differentiate [br] 0:05:41.130,0:05:45.852 the more damaging or destructive male[br]behaviors from more positive male behaviors. 0:05:45.876,0:05:50.226 When it comes to this term, it’s really[br]important to understand that it’s used 0:05:50.230,0:05:55.908 to reinforce the fact that there are many[br]different types and formulations of masculinity, 0:05:55.908,0:05:59.768 or as RW Connell puts it,[br]different masculinities. 0:06:00.168,0:06:05.228 And since there are many ways to practice[br]masculinity, we as men, can choose not to 0:06:05.228,0:06:10.006 engage in the more toxic behaviors, and[br]instead choose to pursue more positive, 0:06:10.006,0:06:12.953 empathetic, and cooperative[br]forms of masculinity. 0:06:13.659,0:06:16.029 Now we only just scratched the surface here, 0:06:16.048,0:06:17.920 but I’ll leave some links and resources 0:06:17.920,0:06:19.640 in the box below if you want to learn more. 0:06:19.646,0:06:23.266 I hope this video did give you a better[br]understanding of this term 0:06:23.269,0:06:26.129 and maybe help clear up some of the[br]misunderstandings about it. 0:06:26.154,0:06:29.781 If you’d like to see more videos related[br]to media and manhood, 0:06:29.781,0:06:32.531 just hop on over to my Patreon page and 0:06:32.543,0:06:35.553 help fund the Pop Culture Detective Agency.