Historians will undoubtedly gawk at the battle that has been fought to destroy and pervert one of the most fundamental constructs of society. The war on masculinity is by far one of the most pervasive in the social atmosphere and is omnipresent from the time a boy is old enough to comprehend that there is a difference between the sexes to the day he takes his last breath. A generation of boys has been taught to denounce their biological drive and second-guess their nature. It has been made clear that the cries to “be yourself” surely do not apply to those who possess XY chromosomes. Some have a distorted worldview, fed to them by those with wicked hearts, that being a man, in and of itself, is reason for disapproval and ridicule. What better way to tear down a component of a human than to make an individual ashamed to have a trait? Intrinsic to their being.
As is the case with most campaigns of hate, a prerequisite to initiating the movement is for the powers that be to vilify and corrupt the collective view of an entire people. It is quite an endeavor to take on half of the world’s population, but as we have seen, this daunting task has not prevented the movement’s spread. The absence of strong male leads in mainstream media further perpetuates the distorted image. of masculinity. Instead of portraying men as empathetic, emotionally intelligent individuals capable of nurturing relationships, the media often glorifies aggressive and dominant behavior as the epitome of manhood. This skewed representation not only misguides young boys but also contributes to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. What masculinity is not is the overly dramatic portrayal of power and dominance at the expense of empathy and compassion. True masculinity lies in the balance of strength and sensitivity—the ability to protect and provide while nurturing and supporting those around us. It is about embracing vulnerability without sacrificing integrity and recognizing that true strength lies in empathy and compassion.
Masculinity is the embodiment of honor, integrity, and resilience. It is the willingness to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. It is about taking responsibility for one’s actions and being accountable for the well-being of others. True masculinity is about fostering healthy relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.
I ask you, what would you rather have? A man, stripped of identity, left to wander the earth with no purpose, only to become a hollow shell of what he could have been? Or a refined man who is true to his biological drive to protect, provide for, and nurture those around him, positively impacting the world?
The more we stop teaching what real masculinity is, the more morally corrupt men we will see. and the further we will stray from building a society based on values of compassion, integrity, and mutual respect. It’s time to reclaim masculinity from the clutches of toxic stereotypes and redefine it in a way that promotes the well-being of all individuals, regardless of gender.
