Guest Commentary: Masculinity in the U.S. today

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Guest Commentary

Guest Commentary (Graphic)

Marjorie Blakeney-Swan

On June 30, Ramona Tea’d hosted author Mark Tapson, who lectured on the subject of “Toxic Masculinity: The War on Men & Boys and Its Impact on America.”  Mr. Tapson is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center and has written and spoken on issues focusing on the politics of popular culture. 

I am sure many of you have heard the term “toxic masculinity” in the media.  As a mother of two young men, and growing up with only brothers, I was curious to hear this lecture.  Toxic masculinity is a recent social science term that describes exaggerated and repressive male gender characteristics such as violence, aggression, apathy, stoicism, independence and oppression. 

Tapson stated that the left believes toxic masculinity has produced many of the world’s ills such as war, mass shootings, rape, domestic violence, unequal rights for women and oppression of others.  Popular culture and Marxist feminists have used this term to indict all men, especially white men, for the perceived sin of being born male. 

Tapson contends that it is a bad time to be a boy in America.  For the past few decades the educational system has been geared toward uplifting and promoting girls, which has made boys second class citizens.  Affirmative actions and agendas taken to favor females have resulted in girls getting better grades, scoring higher on tests, and ultimately outnumbering young men in colleges today.  Tapson believes this is a form of Cultural Marxism, which the left uses to deconstruct American society today and destroy our understanding of what it means to be a man. 

The war on masculinity is already showing negative results.  Men are most likely to drop out of school, be unemployed or underemployed, commit suicide, become homeless, have a mental illness, and not enter into long-term relationships with women, have or raise children.  Many children are raised without a good male role model, which further whittles down boys’ learning of good and productive behaviors and beliefs. 

It is Tapson’s belief that the left’s hatred for masculinity is another tool in the toolbox of communism.  Individualism and self-reliance is a mainstay of capitalism, not communism.  Men who cherish individual thinking, liberty, self-reliance, and will fight for their rights and freedom of thought, rather than be controlled by government, believe in capitalism and the free market.  They will not be subjugated by a socialist or communist form of government.  He believes that the radical left’s goal is to eradicate masculinity from American society which will result in the elimination of all resistance to any form of tyranny. 

According to Tapson, our society needs energetic, vibrant, strong, self-reliant, competitive and protective men.  To counter the war on masculinity, he proposes to revive chivalry.  Chivalry arose in medieval Europe to channel raw masculinity.  Over the centuries the code of conduct included not only the qualities to engage in war — physical strength, courage, stamina, competition and loyalty — but the softer attributes such as protecting the weak, honor, good manners and kindness.  These characteristics, or virtues, do not stifle men’s innate masculine instincts, but channels them for a greater good. 

Today we still see that there are good and strong men in our society.  Tapson pointed out that while the left talked about toxic masculinity causing the violent mass shootings at Parkland, Fla., many people noticed the brave and heroic actions of boys and men who took down the shooter, led and protected students at their own risks without hesitation, some sacrificing their lives.  This aspect of the story is the antithesis of toxic masculinity. 

The society that demeans men becomes a society with toxic men.  The society that respects the good and unique characteristics of masculinity will be happier, more stable and productive.  I see good examples of masculinity today in my family.  My father, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.  He told me and my brothers: “Never start a fight, but you finish it.”  Today my two sons are in the U.S. Army and serve and protect our country every day. 

In conclusion, I encourage parents and teachers to encourage young boys to take up the code of chivalry — appreciate your young boys’ energy and curiosity, encourage independent thinking, have them play sports that promote competition; then teach them good manners, the duty to protect the innocent and weak, and to fight injustice and tyranny.  It’s not too late to fight back against the war on masculinity.