• GardenVarietyAnxiety@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Can you elaborate on toxic femininity? This is legitimately the first time I’ve heard the phrase. What are some examples?

    Fyi, not asking in a combative way. Men’s issues are a very important topic to me.

    • paddirn@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      It’s similar in many ways to toxic masculinity, they’re almost like two sides of the same coin, in that it’s a sort of rigid adherence to gender stereotypes. They often reinforce each other, men have to act one way, women have to act another way. On the “low end”, it’s women conforming to beauty standards that society presents. But there’s also elements of anti-masculinity in it, that it’s all fair for men to be used as tools or pack animals, or as a source of free stuff/money, that it’s perfectly acceptable to use emotions, gender stereotypes, or sexual desire to get what you want. Men are simple creatures, so manipulating them is acceptable in the same way you would a farm animal.