Toxic Mask-ulinity

Patrick Antunez

Toxic masculinity is a mask lack of interest in a girl’s individual personality. This supports the idea that women are accessories to the male experience, the same idea that plagues the entertainment and almost every other male-led industry.

That weak men wear; That is kept on in fear.

The mask has ugly powers; Hiding your true identity; Stuck in an idea of who you ought to be.

Keeping it on is fitting in, In a world that is competing to kick you down, As that is what toxic men do.

And when you’re down, There is no change to your mask, Because emotion is weak.

But, realizing you are not a masked man; But of passion and true strength. To say that you are not truly strong.

For, There’s contentment in being hidden; It’s comfortable, It’s easy.

Making it a war within to take mine off. Each day, inching my fingers slowly off my face; Becoming more happy of who i am and will be.

We can change what we see in entertainment, but if we are not changing what tomorrow’s generation sees, they will be pulled into the same pattern of toxic ideals that are ruining our men.