A clear argument for the existence and abolishment of “toxic masculinity.” Men not helping men because it is seen as socially unacceptable. Be the change you want to see and be there for people in general when they need support. Or don’t. Your life.
I do debate both panels however because in my experience both male and female friends have almost always been there to help me when I am down or in need. The fact more men do not have a support system may be a social problem or it may be a personal problem. Either way we can trace it to “toxic masculinity” in the form of Ken either not creating these social networks or society rejecting men trying to because of traditional gender norms. The other option, one I favor, is that most people who feel this way DO have support but fail to recognize it due to depression.
When we are depressed, even if people are there and do reach out and do love us etc, we tend not to feel that or notice it because depression can and generally does rob us of the ability to get joy from things that would normally make us feel and to be thankful and mindful of the things and people we have in our lives. Depression can make us feel alone even when to the outside observer we have genuine connections. We tend to be so focussed on the negative, unable not to with clinical depression, and we tend when depressed to reject reality. We may have love or friendship but it doesn’t match our exact concept of what those should be and so we say it isn’t real etc. why many men would have depression and why more men might not seek help for depression….? Well.. we can chalk that up to “toxic masculinity” at large. Either the man sees it as weak or otherwise not what a “man does” or society pressures or penalizes against it etc.
This is where the “men’s rights” debate tends to become a fight between those who make little or dismiss the problems of men and those who are hyper focussed on how they believe it is unfair that society focusses so much in problems for women or Trans etc. while seemingly ignoring mens struggles. All you need to understand to start to be able to reconcile things is this:
Women and many other groups exist in a prison of problems largely crafted by others- usually men.
Men exist in a prison they primarily create themselves. When someone is trapped in a prison kept in place by someone else, you can help them escape the guard. When you are the prisoner and also the guard keeping yourself in prison.. how can anyone help you? What do you want them to do, overpower you and force you to let yourself go and then fight you from putting yourself back in after you escape, all against your will?
So in such cases men must help themselves most. Not because that is the “manly thing to do,” but because who else can free you from a prison you are keeping yourself in except for you?
I do debate both panels however because in my experience both male and female friends have almost always been there to help me when I am down or in need. The fact more men do not have a support system may be a social problem or it may be a personal problem. Either way we can trace it to “toxic masculinity” in the form of Ken either not creating these social networks or society rejecting men trying to because of traditional gender norms. The other option, one I favor, is that most people who feel this way DO have support but fail to recognize it due to depression.
Women and many other groups exist in a prison of problems largely crafted by others- usually men.
Men exist in a prison they primarily create themselves. When someone is trapped in a prison kept in place by someone else, you can help them escape the guard. When you are the prisoner and also the guard keeping yourself in prison.. how can anyone help you? What do you want them to do, overpower you and force you to let yourself go and then fight you from putting yourself back in after you escape, all against your will?