Pitt display calls 'be a man' example of 'toxic masculinity'

A display recently surfaced at the University of Pittsburgh that labeled a “male protagonist” as making “a living being violent,” being “white,” and owning “lots of guns.” 

According to pictures of the display obtained by Campus Reform, one of the posters featured presented a flowchart of behaviors that perpetuate “hegemonic masculinity,” including “gendered socialisation,” “power inequality,” “social/health inequality,” “social reproduction of patriarchy,” and “patriarchal society.”

Another poster, titled “Stereotyped Gendered Behaviors,” portrayed a picture of a male next to the term “masculinity,” as well as a picture of a female next to the term “femininity” with a line dividing the two labeled “neutral androgeny [sic].”

The display also included a guide to “toxic masculinity,” with actions associated with the term listed as “emasculation,” “suppressed emotions,” “be a man,” “violence,” and “never a victim.”

Diverting from the topic of “toxic masculinity” and “gendered stereotypes,” a different poster warns about the dangers that men deal with compared to their female counterparts. 

According to the poster, men are “2x as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD,”  while “1/5th [of] men will develop alcohol dependence,” and are “4x more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism.”

A final poster features “Male Protagonist Bingo,” listing characteristics of male protagonists, such as “killing spree,” “white,” “makes a living being violent,” “bald/crew cut,” and finally “guns. Lots of guns.”

Campus Reform reached out to the Resident Advisor responsible for the display, but did not receive a comment in time for publication.

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