Broader Implications and Societal Impact

As gender roles have changed in modern society, so has what it means to be a man. The working husband and stay at home mom-wife family structure is long gone. While what it means to be a man has changed, many of the same pressures for men to be strong and emotionless still remain. Much of these pressures can come from the home setting of each individual man. For example, only 48% of Americans who identify as Republican and leaning Republican think it is acceptable for a man to take care of the home and children while their wife works. This number increases to 66% for Democratic men and Democratic leaning men (Parker and Horowitz). The pressure for traditional masculinity still remains throughout the media as well. With movies just as much as ever displaying the idea of violence and strength being traits men should strive for. While we have seen an increase in women lead movies, and movies that attempt to fight this trend, the traditional male stereotype superhero movies still remain, along with the many violent male led movies that have been around for decades. 

One issue that has come from the traditional view of men being strong and emotionless has the suffering of male mental health. While male suicide rates in the United States are four times higher than that of women, men are diagnosed with depression and mood disorders at a significantly lower rate (Griffith, Ogunbiyi, Jaeger). This is because instead of looking for help, men turn to substance abuse and violent behaviors as unhealthy coping mechanisms. According to Richard V. Reeves, men are traditionally socialized to define their worth as their ability to contribute economically to a household. With men dominating less economical fields, they are having to find new ways to define their worth. Men can also struggle to differentiate simply being stressed out with depression, another reason they are less likely to seek care. 

While these issues exist, there are potential ways to solve them. Gender specific training for doctors who diagnose depression and other mental illnesses could allow for more accurate diagnosis. Simply acknowledging that the issue exists is a great first step in solving this issue. Doctors from the Association of American Medical Colleges say, “The reasons men may need mental health resources and support are not simply due to how men think, or because of their attitudes about masculinity. Using a lens this narrow hampers our capacity to effectively address and improve men’s health” (Griffith, Ogunbiyi, Jaeger). It is important to consider the context of how men are socialized in America and around the world when addressing mental health issues. 

While it is important to acknowledge that while there are factors contributing to men who exhibit toxic masculine traits, those traits are not valid excuses. The first step in solving the problem surrounding men is to acknowledge the presence of a problem. Then it is up to the men to accept change, and other men to support each other in finding a new definition for what masculinity means and looks like, it can be different for every person.