The Societal Effects of Toxic Masculinity Must be Addressed!

Guest Article by Ron Seigel / May 28, 2026

In 2019, the American Psychological Association (APA) issued an important mission statement in which it took the position that constrained definitions of masculinity historically have “inhibited men’s development and their capacity to form meaningful relationships,” and “contributed to the oppression of other people.”

The short document committed the APA to “the support of groups such as women, gays, lesbians and people of color that have been uniquely oppressed by the gender/class/race system.” It also vigorously contended that the empowerment of everyone beyond narrow and restrictive gender role definitions will lead to “the most healthy interactions between the genders, and to the richest relationships between them.”

Some considered this mission statement controversial and, three years later—possibly bowing to criticism—the APA issued a new mission statement that watered down the terms of its original one to the point of non-existence.

The new version stated only that the APA’s mission is to promote “evidence-based psychological practice and the empirical study of how gender roles relate to the physical and emotional health of men and boys.” The document added that its work “is done through a multicultural lens that emphasizes social justice for all with a recognition of the need to study, to challenge, and to improve societal systems.”

In a May 22 article published by The Centre for Male Psychology, John Barry, an established psychologist, psychological researcher, and founder of the centre, hailed the omissions in the APA’s second mission statement as a welcome step toward abandoning what Barry considered to be its “entrenched negative view of masculinity.” He expressed the view that the original mission statement demonstrated a prejudice against males in general.

However, the original APA mission statement was not attacking men or masculinity, but the stereotypical definitions of masculinity that our society imposes and promotes.

Many of our ideas of masculinity have not been formed by individual males doing what biologically comes naturally. Rather, many males are pressured from early childhood into accepting and following societal stereotypes of masculinity that are harmful, dangerous, and even poisonous. Pressure is inflicted by fellow classmates and school bullies, as well as by some adults, including teachers, football coaches, and parents. Portions of the media and entertainment industries play a role as well. It is not overstating to suggest that all these pressures taken together have effects similar to those used in brainwashing or mind control.

In my view, if psychologists totally abandon or ignore this societal aspect, it will be a disaster for boys and men, and for the world as a whole.

One major, long-entrenched stereotype of masculinity is the worship of aggression.  A groundbreaking psychologist, the late Jean Baker Miller, wrote: "Boys are made to fear  

[not] being aggressive, lest they be found wanting, be beaten out by another or (worst of all) act like a girl."

Kids programed with these masculine stereotypes firmly believe that to be respected as a real male, they must project an image of aggressive disrespect for others and respond very aggressively when anyone appears to show disrespect for them.

This idea of masculinity often leads to behavioral problems and even to acts of violence.

In the 1990s, the Task Force on Violence in Wayne County, Michigan reported: “Among teenagers and adults a mix of pride, goading, ignorance and even dirty looks lead to violent confrontations."

In discussing an outbreak of random shooting some years ago, sociologist Tristam Bridges wrote the murderers were "very conformist to masculinity," acting because in their general economic hardship they felt a constant humiliation. This, in turn, made them feel emasculated.

Bridges observed, "It is a terrible statement about masculinity to say that when you're emasculated one way to respond is to open fire."

Among those with greater wealth, this obsession with being respected leads to a more indirect form of violence. Executives of unscrupulous corporations may seek to increase their company's bottom line by manufacturing dangerous products that threaten the safety of their customers or implement practices that threaten the environment, endangering the entire planet.

Usually, this is simply labeled a result of corporate greed. But one must remember that those involved in such practices are well aware that, in this society, money and the possessions it can buy confer status. They are deeply aware that business losses, firing, unemployment, poverty and being on welfare, will make them face tremendous disrespect. They’ll be labeled loosers. For them, this is emasculation. Thus, they too try to preserve their respect as men through actions that disregard people's lives; that, indeed, show a profound disrespect for their very being.

We see much of this in current American politics--particularly in the cruelty of the Trump administration, both through its destructive social policies and the physical violence of ICE. 

Donald Trump’s niece, the psychologist Mary Trump, once observed that, as a child, her uncle was made to feel insecure about his masculinity, creating a constant need in him to prove his toughness (or pretend to it).

One could argue that Trump’s narcissistic and grandiose statements about himself, his placement of his name on public buildings, as well as his violation of the law and trampling of democratic process, is an attempt to compensate for this insecurity.

All over the world, there are dangerous conflicts among nations whose leaders claim they are trying to maintain their country's prestige. What they may really mean is that they want other nations to respect--and fear--their masculinity. A masculinity based on harmful stereotypes.

Society desperately needs a change in its definition of what it means to be a man. And, in these times, it is urgent that those involved in the mental health field understand the harmful effects of the current stereotypes of masculinity.

It is also urgent that societal leaders-- honest political figures, community leaders, religious clergy, secular intellectuals, those in the media, as well as teachers and parents—act and speak as models to provide individuals—especially children—some perspective on these harmful stereotypes and the pressures pushing them to conform to them. Such action would be an important move toward greater self-respect and respect of others, and ultimately to a more mentally healthy society and world.

Ron Seigel has had a long career in journalism. His articles and columns have appeared in The Michigan Citizen, the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and Detroit Legal News, as well as national publications, including the Christian Science Monitor, Catholic Twin Circles, and others. In recent years, his columns have increasingly been devoted to the adverse societal effects of stereotypical definitions of masculinity.

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