Rape Culture and Toxic Masculinity Hurt Everyone. Learn the Terms.

Use accurate language to protect yourself with the facts.

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We are at war — until we know the lyrics to love one another

The term, “toxic masculinity” is often dismissed, because the natural position for all human beings is to be defensive about identity. To protect oneself.

This is also true for women, of course, who have much more experience with harassment and non-consensual sex, than men.

Let us get the facts out first. The word “toxic” is an adjective that describes behaviors and not individuals. Like the word “red” in “red pill,” one would never assume that all pills are red. Some are blue. This is just an indisputable fact of language, and our human nature is an indisputable fact of all people. We all are social creatures who want to be accepted as good. Right. Polite.

A behavior can be red, or blue, or purple, or pink! Most often, the fact is that it depends upon the moment, the context, and the insight of the speaker.

Be an ally, not a victim

“Rape culture”, also brings on defensiveness. That is because most men who pressure women to have sex, especially in youth and early dating…