toxic masculinity

[ tok-sik mas-kyuh-lin-i-tee ]

noun

1. a cultural concept of manliness that glorifies stoicism, strength, virility, and dominance, and that is socially maladaptive or harmful to mental health:

   Men and women both suffer when toxic masculinity perpetuates expectations that are restrictive and traumatizing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of toxic masculinity¹

First recorded in 1985–90