What exactly is toxic masculinity? And could the term's overuse have unintended consequences?

Article here. Excerpt:

'Parenting educator and author Maggie Dent agrees the term can be problematic.

"I believe we have toxic males, the same as we've got toxic females," she says. "I believe both genders deserve to be respected as individuals."

Yet she points out there has been a shift in the behaviour and attitudes of teenage boys in recent years.

"We absolutely know that today's tweens and teen boys, even as young as [nine or 10] … if they've got a phone or they've got access to devices and they're on certain social media, they are getting marinated in content that is the opposite to what anybody wants for their son," she says.

In the 40 years since she was a high school teacher, Ms Dent says teenage banter and teasing has taken an alarming turn.'

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In a race defined by gender, Michelle Obama pleads with men to step up

Article here. Excerpt:

'“To anyone out there thinking about sending out this election or voting for Donald Trump or a third-party candidate in protest because you’re fed up, let me warn you: Your rage does not exist in a vacuum,” she said. “If we don’t win this election, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage.”'

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Michelle Obama says she's a 'little angry' at the hesitation to vote for Harris

Article here. Excerpt:

'She spoke specifically to men in her remarks, emphasizing that further restrictions on abortion and other aspects of women’s health care would impact them and their sons, too.

“I am asking y'all from the core of my being to take our lives seriously — please,” Obama said. “Do not put our lives in the hands of politicians — mostly men — who have no clue or do not care about what we, as women, are going through.”'

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Michelle Obama makes passionate plea for women’s health while campaigning for Harris

Article here. Excerpt:

'Harris in Houston spoke directly to male voters, saying, “Men across America do not want to see their daughters and wives and sisters and mothers put at risk because their rights have been taken.”

Obama in Michigan made a similar overture, but often in more vivid, painfully detailed terms.

“If your wife is shivering and bleeding on the operating room table during a routine, the delivery gone bad, her pressure dropping as she loses more and more blood, or some unforeseen infection spreads and her doctors aren’t sure if they can act — you’ll be the one praying that it’s not too late,” Obama said. “You’ll be the one pleading for somebody, anybody to do something.”

To the women watching, Obama asked that they either try to convince undecided friends and family members to vote for Harris or that they strike out on their own.

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'Let's Be Crystal Clear, It's Not Us, It's You' - Brutal MAHA Alliance Ad Details Kamala's Man Problem

Article here. Excerpt:

'If recent polls are any indication, Kamala Harris has a man problem. Try as they might, the Harris campaign is not resonating with men. Black and Hispanic men along with rank-and-file union men are demographics that Democrats depend on and they are just not lining up to vote for Kamala.

It's evident to even the most casual political observer why men aren't enthusiastically supporting Harris and the Democrats. For years men have been demonized as toxically masculine. Traditionally male-dominated careers in the energy, transportation, and mining sectors are attacked. In fact, the only arena where men have Kamala's complete support is any arena where men want to compete in women's sports.

Kamala is failing to understand the disconnect she has with men. A new ad from The MAHA Alliance explains it to her in brutal detail.'

Dear Kamala Harris

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Opinion: Men of America, get over yourselves

Article here. Excerpt:

'I’m a 62-year-old cisgender male (just learned the meaning of that from my kids a few years ago). I came of age in the late 20th-century metrosexual era in New York City (still not exactly sure what that term means). I’ve always been comfortable with my masculinity (another vague, confusing term), but unlike many men my age (or younger), I probably have as many close female friends as I do male ones.

Enough about me. What I’d really like to explore here is the state of gender relations in America on the cusp of an epochal presidential election in less than two weeks. A recent piece in The New York Times, titled “Why gender may be the defining issue in this election,” got my mind racing as I read it at the breakfast table.
...
For me, the proud father of three daughters in their 20s, it also means enthusiastically casting my vote for Harris next month. Forty-six men, including slaveholders, philanderers, warmongers and corrupt officeholders, have had their turn.

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New ‘insulting’ Harris ad targets Black men's love lives

Article here. Excerpt:

'Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign released a new digital advertisement that targets Black men's love lives, insinuating that they will be rejected by women if they don’t have a plan to vote.

The ads depict a dating game in which a Black man approaches a group of women who are holding balloons. They begin to ask him questions about himself, including how much he makes, how tall he is and whether he works out.

The man’s answers get seemingly positive responses from the women, until one asks him if he has a plan to vote in November.

"Nah, not my thing," the man says, prompting all the women in the scene to pop their balloons.

"Vote. Election Day is Nov 5," reads a message at the end of the ad alongside a Harris-Walz campaign logo.

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Harris Continues Pushing Men Away From Her Campaign One Tweet at a Time

Article here. Excerpt:

'It looks like Kamala Harris’s recent tweet stirred up some heated reactions online. In her post, Harris addressed the importance of men supporting women’s rights, stating, “The men of America do not want to see their daughters, wives, sisters, and mothers put at risk because their rights have been taken away.” The Vice President’s comments aimed to rally male allies around protecting women’s freedoms, but some people see it differently.

Critics have labeled this approach as another example of “momsplaining,” feeling it comes off as condescending. They argue that Harris is out of touch with male voters, suggesting she’s simultaneously telling men what they should care about while also emphasizing that they should stay out of women’s business. Online discussions are debating whether Harris’s message is a rallying cry for unity or an example of the VP alienating a key voting demographic.'

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Why Won't Men Fight Back?

Article here. Excerpt:

'Men have traditionally avoided conflict in relationships to maintain peace, keep their partner happy, protect their reputation, avoid shame, preserve sexual access, and maintain stability. A key reason for this is the lack of social support or training that encourages men to prioritize their own needs. As a result, men often place their partner’s desires above their own. This pattern, shaped by both personal and societal expectations, leaves men less likely to push back—whether in their marriage or in response to broader social issues.'

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Chemists rip ‘feminism’ STEM class proposal

Article here. Excerpt:

'An academic journal article about “feminism” and “dysconscious racism in STEM” never should have been published, according to two chemistry professors.

Professors John Landrum and Joseph Lichter questioned why the Journal of Chemical Education allowed a paper that vaguely touched on “white supremacy” to be published.

“Overlooking the obligation to provide clear definitions and valid evidence for such terms, especially ‘White Supremacy’ which was deemed sufficiently important to include in the abstract, is hard to rationalize for a journal that ascribes to upholding reasonable standards of scientific rigor,” the two Florida International University professors wrote.

They also called the paper a “deeply flawed work of scholarship.” Only two academic publications cited the paper – the Landrum (pictured, left) and Lichter (pictured, right) reply, and a subsequent response from the original author to these criticism.'

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Australia: New School Resources To Counter Andrew Tate-Types

Article here. Excerpt:

'Victorian students will learn to recognise and respond to toxic masculinity, hate speech and coercive control online – with new Respectful Relationships resources being rolled out to schools across the state.

The new resources will give students the skills to counter the influence of Andrew Tate-types, helping them safely navigate issues like consent, sextortion, pornography and gender-based bullying.

More non-government schools are also being invited to join over 1,950 Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools, including over 370 non-government schools already signed up to the initiative.

Developed by education experts Professor Helen Cahill and Associate Professor Debbie Ollis in consultation with teachers, students and parents – the new contemporary materials will help young people stay safe online and in real life. We’re giving parents and carers peace of mind too – delivering advice and resources from trusted sources.'

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AVDA's Committed Men program aims to redefine masculinity, reduce violence

Article here. Excerpt:

'One out of three women has been a victim of physical or sexual violence. But what if we could prevent domestic abuse before it happens?

That's the goal of AVDA's (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) prevention team. Specifically, its "Committed Men" program, which specifically works with young men and boys to prevent intimate partner violence. The goal is to create the social change necessary to reduce dating and domestic violence in the future.

AVDA's men and boys’ prevention program goes into schools, churches, athletic clubs and community centers to mentor young boys, teaching them the difference between healthy and hurtful masculinity. The program challenges their beliefs and attitudes and expands the definition of what it means be a man.'

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Women, nonbinary comedians crack up patriarchy in Shenanigans’ ‘Men Aren’t Funny’

Article here. Excerpt:

'There are no cooties at this comedy show.

UCLA’s comedy club Shenanigans is once again hosting its “Men Aren’t Funny” show, kicking off their first performance of the year Friday. Gabby Klijian, a third-year English student and the president of Shenanigans, said the club frequently puts on “Men Aren’t Funny” as a way to exclusively showcase female and nonbinary performers in a variety of comedy routines, including improv, stand-up and sketch performances.

Although there aren’t any guidelines on the comedians’ content, because of the theme of “Men Aren’t Funny,” most of the show’s material spotlights feminism and the experiences of women and nonbinary comedians, said Karina Dutko, a geography graduate student\ and the co-head of Shenanigans’ stand-up team.'

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The cost to women of the overlooked rise of Kenya’s manosphere

Article here. Excerpt:

'As the co-founder and executive director of Usikimye, a non-profit in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that works with women – and some men – who are experiencing sexual and gender-based violence at home, Migwi said that the woman “couldn’t put her finger on what was changing” in her relationship with her husband at first, but soon thought she figured it out. The man had for months been consuming content by Kenya’s most prominent “masculinity influencers,” who lead Kenya’s arm of the more global “manosphere” — where content is put out across websites, blogs and social media accounts promoting a certain lifestyle, focused on masculinity and opposing feminism — which she believes changed his views towards her.'

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NCFM update Boys and Men Commissions

Article here. Excerpt:

'NCFM is gearing up to file a lawsuit against the State of California for not having a Commission on the Status of Boys and Men.

The Global Initiative for Boys and Men has been hard at work, developing state reports to highlight the need for such commissions, including one for California that was just completed last week, which you can read below. Each report can cost up to $10,000 and take months or even years to complete and keep updated. Our upcoming lawsuit will cost at least $30,000, similar to the one we filed against the Selective Service System earlier this year.'

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