Toxic masculinity leads to gender-based violence, and more important reasons it needs to end

Toxic masculinity, like #metoo, has become buzzy of late, and for good reasons.

The more women are coming to terms with their rights, the more they are recognizing, the harmful behaviors and expression of traditional male gender norms.

At the Philippine Commission on Women's Youth Forum on Violence Against Women on Monday, male students and youth advocates from all over the Philippines learned about toxic masculinity, its effects to women and what they can do to avoid leaning towards it.

Harold David, Information Officer of Commission on Population  and Mr. Ariel Frago, Project Manager of Plan International Philippines gave a talk on the topic and here's what we learned.

Illustration by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/GMA News

1. It leads to gender-based violence

Toxic masculinity leads to gender-based violence because traditional beliefs — "men are stronger than women," for instance — actually result to men becoming violent towards women.

Why would they become more violent towards women? To prove that they are indeed the stronger gender.

David told young Filipino male students changing this kind of thinking is one way of stopping Violence Against Women.

He said men should also stop thinking that resolving conflict should involve violence whether to women or to their fellow men.

2. Women are more disproportionately affected by gender-based violence than men

Frago said that even though gender-based violence can apply to both men and women, women are at higher risk and are the primary target of gender-based violence because of toxic masculinity.

He encouraged men to become the start of change and see that women are their equals.

3. It limits men and women from doing what they want

Toxic masculinity is men thinking there are things only men can do and things only women can do.

It's a very outdated way of thinking because it limits both men and women from doing things they might excel at, and expressing things they might be feeling. 

This also leads to unequal opportunities that may hinder them from growing and becoming the best versions of themselves.

PCW issued a very strong reminder: A person shouldn't be measured based on gender, but on what they can do as individuals.

Some 500 members of the youth including junior and senior high school students, Sangguniang Kabataan officials, boy and girl scouts and other regional participants were present at the PCW's Youth Forum on Violence Against Women.

The forum kickstarts their 18-Day campaign on vowing to end VAW. — LA, GMA News