I hate both of these terms and find both to not only be sexist but also terribly divisive. I feel whenever somebody uses either, they cease to be someone with credability or integrity, and only add to the gender divide that's been so bad over the past decade or so. I feel there's nothing toxic or wrong with being either masculine or feminine. Either a man or woman can be a toxic individual with their behavior and actions, but their gender has zilch to do with it. There's wonderful and useful traits both masculinity and femininity have.

If one exists though, then surely the other does. If masculinity can be toxic, then so can femininity. But I'd rather not stoop to the levels of misandrists and misogynists, and employ either term. I feel without a doubt the toxic masculinity narrative of the past decade has done a great deal to harm the Left's relationship with male voters and played a massive role in their disatrous performance during the 2024 elections, and as a mostly very liberal person, the use of the term always makes me both cringey and angry at the same time. Rejection of the term and claiming masculinity isn't toxic would do wonders for the Left winning back male voters. Which again is another issue, how even the mere word of masculinity itself now has a negative connotation to it with how it's largely been tainted by the toxic moniker. Which again, needs to be rejected. Let's call out and condemn individuals who are toxic, not decrying an entire gender as such.

I also want to use this as an opportunity to rant for a bit when I've seen people acknowledging men/boys as being abused, raped, harmed, etc. by women/girls as being "toxic masculinity" when they don't come forward because of the notion they supposedly enjoy being sexually violated when a woman or girl does it to them. That in itself is asinine and infuriating, but then to blame "toxic masculinity" for male victims not coming forward? Ugh. By the same logic, wouldn't a woman/girl who sexually violates a male also be guilty of "toxic femininity?" It goes to show why using either term is pointlessly divisive and both just go around in circles. I think the "toxic masculinity" term and narrative should be stricken from the public lexicon and we also shouldn't stoop to misandrists' levels and use "toxic femininity" to tar women/girls as a whole. We can all agree a person can be toxic regardless of gender and the gender has zippo to do with it.