The author of the article, How the Media Defines Masculinity, writes: “In most media portrayals, male characters are rewarded for self-control and the control of others, aggression and violence, financial independence, and physical desirability.” And the 2020 report, If He Can See It, Will He Be It? analyzed TV programs which aimed at boys found male characters were:
- less likely to show emotions than female characters … such as empathy, anger, or even happiness
- more likely to be shown taking risks
- less likely to have onscreen parents
- more likely to be both perpetrators and victims of violence.
Jon Johnson writes in his article, What to know about toxic masculinity: “In modern society, people often use the term toxic masculinity to describe exaggerated masculine traits that many cultures have widely accepted or glorified.
This harmful concept of masculinity also places significant importance on ‘manliness’ based on:
- strength
- lack of emotion
- self-sufficiency
- dominance
- sexual virility
Contrary to the stereotypical description of masculinity, we see a healthy masculinity manifested in the full humanity of Jesus, in his gentle, compassionate relational and emotional engagement with people.
