Chapter 6: The Great Divide of Sex and Politics: Exploring Toxic Masculinity in Generation Z Undergraduates

From the #MeToo movement to presidential election campaigns, toxic masculinity is at the center of many conversations about gender roles and societal expectations (Dignam et al., 2021; Maricourt & Burrell, 2021). Numerous empirical studies have sought to generate a concrete conceptual definition of toxic masculinity, yet since the term first emerged in the 1980s, a single definition has remained elusive. Wedgwood et al. (2023) suggest that toxic masculinity represents multiple negative elements of the traditional masculine identity, including, but not limited to aggressiveness, competitiveness, risk-taking, toughness/invulnerability, and emotional restrictiveness, plus a tendency toward sexist and homophobic ideologies (American Psychological Association, 2018; Giuzio Carvalho Macedo, 2023). In comparison, people who have “healthy” masculinity are in touch with their emotions and more focused on maintaining positive social relationships (Waling, 2019). The long-standing belief that positions of power require individuals, typically men, to be aggressive and emotionally distant to be successful (Dolan et al., 2019) remains a persistent obstacle toward gender equality and may perpetuate sexist behaviors across multiple generations. The present chapter examines the evolution of these “toxically masculine” traits and beliefs through different generations, concluding with Generation Z. The goal was to identify which demographic backgrounds (gender, political affiliation, athletic membership) may be risk factors for higher toxic masculinity.