Whenever you read about masculinity, there’s a high chance the word “toxic” will be thrown in there, too. And it’s impacting our youngest generation more than we might think.

A new Boys In Schools report from Male Allies has explored how tween and teen boys feel about a range of topics – from their connections and time spent online, to politics, masculinity and feminism.

The poll of just over 1,000 boys between the ages of 11 and 15 years old, carried out across 37 schools in England, Scotland and Wales, revealed the vast majority (79%) of boys say it isn’t clear to them what masculinity is.

One boy suggested people always say what it shouldn’t be, but don’t say what it actually is. Another said: “It’s toxic, that’s all I ever hear.”

What is masculinity?

Masculinity is “a set of characteristics and behaviours associated with men, boys and male bodies, socially constructed and varying across time and place”, according to The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative.

Traditional ideas around masculinity focus on men being tough and dominant. Other attributes associated with it include power, aggression, competition and control, as well as this idea of men keeping a lid on their emotions.

Some studies have linked traditional masculinity to negative outcomes – one review found adhering to traditional masculine........

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