The term “toxic masculinity” has gained considerable attention and feminist scholarship, often associated with harmful behaviors such as misogyny, homophobia, and men’s violence. The study explores attitudes toward gender, masculinity, and the awareness and perceptions surrounding toxic masculinity. An online omnibus survey, Harris on Demand, was conducted in the United States in late July 2023, engaging 2,023 participants ages 18 and older. The sample was weighted for age within gender, region, race/ethnicity, income, education, marital status, and size of household to align them with their actual proportions in the USA population. The findings reveal differences in perceptions of toxic masculinity across different social groups, offering new insights into the underlying cultural and social factors that shape its understanding. Amid overall changes in perceptions about how masculinity is defined, the impact on men versus women also varies as does who is influencing these attitudes. Younger adults, those under 35 years of age, are more positive about the perceived changes than older adults. Young men are looking to a variety of sources to influence their views, including many who are looking to social media and influencers as having influenced their definition of masculinity, more so than fathers. This research contributes to the broader gender discourse and offers a foundation for future studies on the impacts of toxic masculinity in contemporary society and the business environment.
