@jahgrey I feel like men, including myself, are having a hard time knowing what masculinity looks and feels like physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually outside of the toxicity because most of the men we looked up to are also apart of this toxic cycle. - This cycle was a place of safety and survival for most of us, which in turn made many, more specifically women, around us feel unsafe. It’s insane that certain behaviours, toxicity, is what’s learned and what was considered growing up “becoming/being” a man. I feel upset about these concepts the more I dive into my ideals of masculinity that I’ve been fed for WAY too long. - As I continue to unlearn my toxic ideals of masculinity and what it means, for myself, to be a man, I find it nuts how little support men receive when they choose to go against the grain of societal norms of masculinity, not only from men but from women as well - Most of the times the lack of support is happening subconsciously.  Example. Men are still being told to “Man Up” in their relationships when showing certain emotions instead of receiving encouragement from our peers/partners for not being the typical emotionally unavailable type of guy. Why is the inability and/or refusal to honestly express feelings subconsciously considered a positive masculine characteristic? That doesn’t make sense to me. Stop telling men to “Man Up” or saying things like “why are you in your feelings?” It’s dismissive, and extremely toxic, which contributes to an already toxic situation. - I could go in about this but on the reals, salute to all the men out there working to break the cycle of toxic masculinity, I see y’all and it doesn’t go unnoticed. #supportblackart #jagrey #masculinity #blackmancan #breakingthecycle https://www.instagram.com/p/BtUQkNShVzn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3jyuqc6clde7
