A new study reveals that sexist beliefs are harmful to men's mental health. The study reviewed other studies that have gauged the impact of toxic masculinity on men's psychological well-being and found that having views and behaviors that oppress women cause mental health struggles for men as well as women.
According to Popular Science, the studies examined for the newly released meta-analysis did not seek to vilify men as individuals, but rather point out the ways that traditionally male attributes hurt men, women, and broader society. The analysis, published on Monday by the American Psychological Society, found that adopting traditionally masculine traits—such as dominance over women, pursuit of social status, self-reliance, and sexual promiscuity—can have a negative impact on men's mental health.
"It's not rocket science. It’s something that’s been demonstrated over 20 years of research," co-author of the study, Y. Joel Wong, who is an associate professor of Counseling/Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at the University of Indiana at Bloomington, told Popular Science.
The study found that of all the traits traditionally linked to masculinity, three were particularly bad for men's mental health: self-reliance, the pursuit of sexual promiscuity, and power over women, according to Popular Science. Wong told Popular Science that rigid self-reliance just isn't realistic. "The norm of self-reliance is increasingly not helpful," Wong said. "You have to often rely on others."
Pursuing sexual promiscuity and dominance over women are becoming increasingly unaccepted by society, and people are now speaking up when they experience sexism instead of "suffering in silence."
Wong also told Popular Science that a lot of men would prefer to buck traditional gender traits but are concerned that other men will judge them harshly, so they don't act on their genuine desires. "There’s a gap between what men perceive other men believe or do and what men actually believe or do," Wong told Popular Science." Because of this perception gap and the need many men feel to be self-reliant, men may not reach out for help when experiencing a difficult time, which can compound existing mental health issues.
