“Manhood is a precarious social status” — Stanaland et al. (2023)

Our sense of identity, the very essence of who we are, is hugely important to us, so if it feels like someone is attacking that, it can result in anger, frustration, and even a sense of betrayal. Imagine the art student who spends years learning their craft and finally gets a job in their industry. They excitedly call home to share the good news, only to be told, “That’s not a real job. Why are you wasting your life?” This response is not only pretty mean but also serves to invalidate the artist’s achievements, passion, and sense of identity.

When we feel that a core part of our identity is under attack, it can create an identity threat where we feel devalued, stigmatized, or negatively stereotyped as a result of who we are and how we’re seen by others. Now consider the concept of identity threat within the context of masculinity. If males are repeatedly told that masculinity is toxic, it can send a message that it is they who are toxic and that they are valued less by society as a result. This can lead to anger and defensiveness, pushing them to engage with others who validate that anger, both in real life and online, thereby reinforcing the toxic patterns that created the initial identity threat.

Stanaland et al. (2023) explored the identity threats associated with the toxic masculinity discussion and found that when facing such an identity........

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