"Some people think that the masculinity crisis exists because men are becoming feminized." This is from a 2022 survey published in The Egalitarian, an online publication promoting gender equality. The term "feminization" appears to have two meanings. One is serious pushback by pundits in reaction to those men who have chosen to move away from traditional notions of "manliness" either in appearance, behavior or both. The other, perhaps more obscure, refers to men who follow a feminine partner's wishes to make certain adjustments in appearance or behavior to benefit a romantic relationship. Since the later appears to harm no one, let us address the former.
Sputnik International, an arm of the state-owned Russian news service, warned in 2022 that "liberal Europe" may be on the brink of demise because its "feminized men can't protect it." Many others have issued similar warnings including actor turned political activist Sean Penn and journalist Piers Morgan. In essence, these critics equate the broad liberalization of masculinity with the now popular term "masculinity crisis," seriously distorting both the former and the latter. Let us tease this apart, shall we?
First, blaming the masculinity crisis on "feminization" accomplishes two crucial ends: the true nature of the masculinity crisis is denied, and women are blamed for imparting their femininity to men. Second, portraying changing men's styles with the accusatory "feminization" label is an insult to both men's freedom to choose the styles they prefer, and to the stylishly "feminine" women whom the men are allegedly following.
These critics who equate the masculinity crisis with "feminization" are clearly threatened by the progressive chipping away of the man box masculine ideals they so cherish. The very idea that some men may be moving away from the culturally imposed restrictions of the man box becomes an existential threat to critics who attempt to deny, distract or dissemble their way around the thicket of issues embedded there. In so doing they retain their power within the male-dominance hierarchy that sustains the masculinity crisis. They are the latest version of the schoolyard bully who threatens the boy who acts too much "like a girl."
Make no mistake, masculinity is under attack. Even traditionally sacred elements such as valor, honor, chivalry and leadership are threatened by the minority backlash against a more fluent, expressive and inclusive kind of masculinity, or more accurately masculinities, that retain those sacred elements. The men who argue for these kinds of masculinities are fighting for true gender equality.
Finally, back to The Egalitarian survey (11/17/2022) cited at the top of this article. Journalist Holly Campbell-Drew who conducted the informal survey found that only three percent of respondents agreed with the statement, "the masculinity crisis exists because men are becoming feminized." Meanwhile 87% agreed with the statement, "I think it is okay for men to be feminine," and a whopping 92.5% agreed with the statement, "I think that men should be able to express themselves in their own way, even if that means they are more feminine."
Right on, brother!
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