YSK: Psychologists want you to stop using the phrase "toxic masculinity"

Crosspost "YSK: Psychologists want you to stop using the phrase "toxic masculinity"" from /r/YouShouldKnow:

Why YSK: Toxic masculinity is an example of the outdated deficit approach to psychology, which violates central principles of the more modern positive psychology approach. It also damages the therapeutic alliance (or at least the potential for one) by giving clients the idea that therapy might focus on emasculation instead of problem solving. And it's a literal textbook example of something called negative labelling, which can be a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy.

People and organisations who have come out against the phrase include the British Psychological Society, a recent government report on male suicide, the Centre for Male Psychology, the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, the Australian Men's Health Forum, the National Coalition for Men, various independent psychology experts from around the world, and at least three published psychology textbooks.

Sources

Terminology that puts masculinity in a negative light, such as toxic masculinity, hegemonic masculinity, should be discouraged. Even if these terms are intended to describe specific behaviours, they almost inevitably imply that all men are dysfunctional in some way. The term 'masculinities’ can also be problematic because it implies that masculinity is socially fluid without any core biological contribution. It is more helpful to understand masculinity as the result of interactions between social, biological and evolutionary forces (Barry & Owens, 2019). Traits associated with masculinity tend to be observable globally and cross-culturally (Ellis, 2011). Masculinity is thus unlikely to be readily amenable to change, any more than sexuality is readily amenable to change.

British Psychological Society. (2022). Psychological interventions to help male adults. https://cms.bps.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-11/Practice%20Briefing%20-%20psychological%20interventions%20to%20help%20male%20adults.pdf

A key underlying issue that has been raised both in this inquiry and also in the APPG’s previous two reports, is the pervasive male-victim blaming narrative. It is clear that the phrase ‘toxic masculinity’ is damaging and adds additional stigma and barriers to male help-seeking.

This damaging narrative suggests that masculinity itself is at fault and that, if men would only talk more, this would solve their problem.

The previous two APPG reports eschewed this deficit-model and this report continues with this same approach. The key is that whilst there is a need for men to talk, and this is increasingly the case, the responsibility should not primarily rest on their shoulders. It should primarily rest on society, employers and professionals to understand better the ways men communicate, and then to listen, ask and act.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Issues Affecting Men and Boys. (2022). Tackling Male Suicide: A New ‘Whole System’ Approach. https://equi-law.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/APPG-MB-Male-Suicide-Report-9-22.pdf