{"id":433020,"date":"2026-01-21T16:32:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=433020"},"modified":"2026-01-21T16:32:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:32:28","slug":"masculinite-toxique-riposte-feministe-voit-jour-reseaux-sociaux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/toxic-masculinity-feminist-response-emerges-on-social-media-433020","title":{"rendered":"&quot;Toxic masculinity&quot;: a feminist response emerges on social media"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On social media, a feminist counter-offensive is organizing against masculinist discourse. With innovative campaigns, inspiring speeches, and educational tools, this response offers a different vision of masculinity: freer, more respectful, and infinitely more desirable.<\/p>\n<h2> A growing masculinist influence<\/h2>\n<p> For several years now, self-proclaimed figures of &quot;alpha masculinity&quot; have been attracting many young men searching for role models. Their rhetoric promises power, dominance, and success, while simultaneously portraying feminism as the number one enemy. The result: a self-image based on rivalry, fear of failure, and a rigid, far from fulfilling, masculinity.<\/p>\n<p>Recent studies demonstrate the extent of this influence. A majority of young adults report knowing these content creators, and a significant proportion follow their videos regularly. Many believe that these narratives &quot;finally tell the truth&quot; and reinforce the idea that society has become hostile to men. This climate fuels a sense of identity crisis, where vulnerability is perceived as a weakness and empathy as a threat. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRtfneEjNPl\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\"> View this post on Instagram <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"> <a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRtfneEjNPl\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Sidaction (@sidaction)<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2> When viral codes are repurposed for good<\/h2>\n<p> Faced with this wave, the feminist response doesn&#39;t just denounce it: it innovates. Campaigns designed for social media subvert the very codes of these male-dominated influencers. By using familiar formats, charismatic characters, and short messages, they spread positive values such as respect, consent, and responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>This strategy is brilliant: rather than confronting each other head-on, these campaigns infiltrate the same digital spaces and sow seeds of positive ideas. The goal is not to instill guilt, but to offer inspiring models where strength is balanced with kindness, and where self-confidence is built through cooperation, not domination.<\/p>\n<h2> Fathers who are speaking out again<\/h2>\n<p> Meanwhile, more personal initiatives are emerging. For example, British actor Stephen Graham, creator of the series &quot;Adolescence,&quot; launched &quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomsbury.com\/uk\/discover\/superpages\/non-fiction\/letters-to-our-sons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Letters to Our Sons<\/a> &quot; with psychologist Orly Klein. This project invites fathers from around the world to write to their sons about masculinity freed from traditional gender norms, sharing personal experiences and reflections. Soon to be published as a book, it aims to <em>&quot;restore authentic dialogue and counter the influence of hate speech online.&quot;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>These fatherly words remind us of an essential truth: there is no single way to be a man. There are as many masculinities as there are individuals, and each deserves to be fully embraced, without shame or pressure. It is in this diversity that richness, creativity, and balance are found.<\/p>\n<h2> Education, a pillar of lasting change<\/h2>\n<p> Education also plays a central role in this transformation. Despite legal obligations to teach about emotional, relational, and intimate life in schools, these programs often remain insufficient. Associations are therefore mobilizing to highlight the urgent need to educate young people about respect, equality, and healthy relationships. Internationally, some educational reforms are now even integrating these themes from a very young age, recognizing that prevention begins with knowledge and dialogue.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, by combining digital actions, cultural projects, and educational demands, this feminist response envisions a more just and joyful society. It invites boys and men to break free from stifling expectations, cultivate their sensitivity, and embrace a masculinity that celebrates respect for oneself and others. Because being a man today is, above all, about having the courage to be fully human.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On social media, a feminist counter-offensive is organizing against masculinist discourse. With innovative campaigns, inspiring speeches, and educational...","protected":false},"author":8394,"featured_media":433023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[72943],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-433020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-feminisme"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Masculinite-toxique-_-une-riposte-feministe-voit-le-jour-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Masculinite-toxique-_-une-riposte-feministe-voit-le-jour-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Masculinite-toxique-_-une-riposte-feministe-voit-le-jour-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux.jpg","author":{"name":"L\u00e9a Michel","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1721220128171-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":72943,"name":"Feminism","slug":"feminisme","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":73115,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Feminism section of The Body Optimist covers gender equality in everyday life: everyday sexism, violence against women, work, the domestic load, rights and representation. Its explainers, first-person stories and practical advice are for anyone who wants to understand inequality and act against it, with special attention to the pressures placed on women\u2019s bodies.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Feminism section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Everyday sexism<\/strong>: remarks, jokes and expressions that normalize inequality, like the familiar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/you-scare-men-a-remark-often-made-to-women-sparks-debate-439175\">\u201cyou scare men\u201d comment<\/a> so many women hear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Violence and harassment<\/strong>: street and online harassment, consent, intimate partner violence and tools to help recognize abuse early.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work and money<\/strong>: pay gaps, entrepreneurship, the division of household labor and the extra expenses that inequality places on women.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and expectations<\/strong>: body hair, clothing, age and appearance, and the debates over women\u2019s freedom to decide about their own bodies and image.<\/li>\n<li><strong>History and symbols<\/strong>: pioneers, inventors and rallying symbols that tell the story of feminist movements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Women\u2019s rights around the world<\/strong>: access to education, sports and public space, and the fights being waged from Afghanistan to Ethiopia, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/afghan-private-schools-defy-the-ban-on-teaching-431358\">Afghan girls defying the ban on schooling<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you respond to everyday sexism?<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to everyday sexism starts with naming what was just said, without justifying yourself or apologizing. A few strategies that work:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask a neutral question (\u201cCan you explain what you mean?\u201d): having to spell out a remark is often enough to defuse it.<\/li>\n<li>Describe the facts instead of judging the person (\u201cThat joke reduces women to their looks\u201d).<\/li>\n<li>Assess your safety: you are never obligated to respond on the spot.<\/li>\n<li>At work, write down dates, words and witnesses: in many countries, sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace are against the law.<\/li>\n<li>As a bystander, support the person being targeted rather than letting silence validate the remark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For situations at the office, our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/how-to-set-boundaries-in-the-face-of-unsolicited-advances-at-work-447161\">setting boundaries with unwanted advances at work<\/a> offers more concrete responses.<\/p>\n<h2>Our approach: an inclusive, practical feminism<\/h2>\n<p>Our feminism includes all women: fat or thin, women of color, lesbian, trans, disabled, younger or older. We connect the big questions of equality to lived situations, from a comment at the office to the division of chores, and we prefer explanations and practical steps to controversy, without ranking struggles or pitting women against each other.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/invisible-costs-women-bear-daily-436496\">invisible costs women bear every day<\/a>, and what they reveal about inequality.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/the-cool-girl-myth-when-being-desirable-mostly-means-never-causing-a-disturbance-447055\">\u201ccool girl\u201d myth<\/a>, or how being seen as desirable often comes down to never making waves.<\/li>\n<li>Why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/why-is-a-womans-body-a-subject-of-debate-after-45-years-444443\">women\u2019s bodies after 45<\/a> are still such a hot topic, and what ageism has to do with it.<\/li>\n<li>How <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/outfits-deemed-inappropriate-dress-code-reveals-inequalities-between-men-and-women-434311\">dress codes<\/a> expose double standards between men and women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is feminism?<\/h3>\n<p>Feminism refers to the ideas and movements that seek equal rights, opportunities and living conditions for women and men. It spans many schools of thought that share one observation: inequality between the sexes is socially constructed, which means it can be challenged, in the law as well as in attitudes.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between sexism and misogyny?<\/h3>\n<p>Sexism covers prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination based on sex, often so normalized that they go unnoticed. Misogyny refers more specifically to contempt or hostility toward women. A joke about \u201cwomen drivers\u201d is everyday sexism; a speech claiming that women are incompetent by nature is misogyny.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the mental load?<\/h3>\n<p>The mental load is the invisible work of anticipating and organizing household and family life: remembering appointments, groceries, birthdays and whatever is running low. Even when chores are shared, this project-manager role still often falls to women, with effects on their fatigue and their free time.<\/p>\n<h3>What should you do if you experience intimate partner violence?<\/h3>\n<p>If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency number in your country. Many countries have a free, confidential helpline for people experiencing domestic violence, and a doctor, a social worker or a specialized organization can help you plan your next steps. Tools such as the \u201cviolentometer,\u201d a scale that runs from green to red, can also help you recognize behaviors that call for caution or signal danger.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Explore all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> topics, along with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> sections.<\/p>","parent":5678,"count":217,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":72943,"category_count":217,"category_description":"<p>The Feminism section of The Body Optimist covers gender equality in everyday life: everyday sexism, violence against women, work, the domestic load, rights and representation. Its explainers, first-person stories and practical advice are for anyone who wants to understand inequality and act against it, with special attention to the pressures placed on women\u2019s bodies.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Feminism section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Everyday sexism<\/strong>: remarks, jokes and expressions that normalize inequality, like the familiar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/you-scare-men-a-remark-often-made-to-women-sparks-debate-439175\">\u201cyou scare men\u201d comment<\/a> so many women hear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Violence and harassment<\/strong>: street and online harassment, consent, intimate partner violence and tools to help recognize abuse early.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work and money<\/strong>: pay gaps, entrepreneurship, the division of household labor and the extra expenses that inequality places on women.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and expectations<\/strong>: body hair, clothing, age and appearance, and the debates over women\u2019s freedom to decide about their own bodies and image.<\/li>\n<li><strong>History and symbols<\/strong>: pioneers, inventors and rallying symbols that tell the story of feminist movements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Women\u2019s rights around the world<\/strong>: access to education, sports and public space, and the fights being waged from Afghanistan to Ethiopia, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/afghan-private-schools-defy-the-ban-on-teaching-431358\">Afghan girls defying the ban on schooling<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you respond to everyday sexism?<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to everyday sexism starts with naming what was just said, without justifying yourself or apologizing. A few strategies that work:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask a neutral question (\u201cCan you explain what you mean?\u201d): having to spell out a remark is often enough to defuse it.<\/li>\n<li>Describe the facts instead of judging the person (\u201cThat joke reduces women to their looks\u201d).<\/li>\n<li>Assess your safety: you are never obligated to respond on the spot.<\/li>\n<li>At work, write down dates, words and witnesses: in many countries, sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace are against the law.<\/li>\n<li>As a bystander, support the person being targeted rather than letting silence validate the remark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For situations at the office, our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/how-to-set-boundaries-in-the-face-of-unsolicited-advances-at-work-447161\">setting boundaries with unwanted advances at work<\/a> offers more concrete responses.<\/p>\n<h2>Our approach: an inclusive, practical feminism<\/h2>\n<p>Our feminism includes all women: fat or thin, women of color, lesbian, trans, disabled, younger or older. We connect the big questions of equality to lived situations, from a comment at the office to the division of chores, and we prefer explanations and practical steps to controversy, without ranking struggles or pitting women against each other.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/invisible-costs-women-bear-daily-436496\">invisible costs women bear every day<\/a>, and what they reveal about inequality.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/the-cool-girl-myth-when-being-desirable-mostly-means-never-causing-a-disturbance-447055\">\u201ccool girl\u201d myth<\/a>, or how being seen as desirable often comes down to never making waves.<\/li>\n<li>Why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/why-is-a-womans-body-a-subject-of-debate-after-45-years-444443\">women\u2019s bodies after 45<\/a> are still such a hot topic, and what ageism has to do with it.<\/li>\n<li>How <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/outfits-deemed-inappropriate-dress-code-reveals-inequalities-between-men-and-women-434311\">dress codes<\/a> expose double standards between men and women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is feminism?<\/h3>\n<p>Feminism refers to the ideas and movements that seek equal rights, opportunities and living conditions for women and men. It spans many schools of thought that share one observation: inequality between the sexes is socially constructed, which means it can be challenged, in the law as well as in attitudes.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between sexism and misogyny?<\/h3>\n<p>Sexism covers prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination based on sex, often so normalized that they go unnoticed. Misogyny refers more specifically to contempt or hostility toward women. A joke about \u201cwomen drivers\u201d is everyday sexism; a speech claiming that women are incompetent by nature is misogyny.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the mental load?<\/h3>\n<p>The mental load is the invisible work of anticipating and organizing household and family life: remembering appointments, groceries, birthdays and whatever is running low. Even when chores are shared, this project-manager role still often falls to women, with effects on their fatigue and their free time.<\/p>\n<h3>What should you do if you experience intimate partner violence?<\/h3>\n<p>If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency number in your country. Many countries have a free, confidential helpline for people experiencing domestic violence, and a doctor, a social worker or a specialized organization can help you plan your next steps. Tools such as the \u201cviolentometer,\u201d a scale that runs from green to red, can also help you recognize behaviors that call for caution or signal danger.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Explore all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> topics, along with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> sections.<\/p>","cat_name":"Feminism","category_nicename":"feminisme","category_parent":5678}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8394"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=433020"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":433067,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433020\/revisions\/433067"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/433023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=433020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=433020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=433020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}