The stereotypical perception of masculinity is a tough and strong man, but a new study proves again that masculinity is quite fragile.
A new study shows that men feel threatened by women in power. In an era in which women have become successful leaders, this is a sexist stigma that everyone must take steps to counteract. How much better would the world be if gender wasn’t a prerequisite for respect?
It is highly evident in society today that women just aren’t given the same respect men are in the workplace-- even when they have equal or greater qualifications. For example, recently the #ILookLikeAnEngineer campaign sprung up on social media this past week in response to nasty social media comments that doubted an attractive woman could be an engineer. As if beauty and brains can somehow not coexist in a woman.
Another study that was conducted recently about women experiencing harassment in the gaming world. Low-skilled male gamers felt threatened by women who were better than them and as a result often harassed them. Skilled male players didn’t feel threatened, so they didn’t react negatively to women’s presence in the gaming world.
Do men feel threatened by women gaining status in the workforce because of the outdated preconception that men have to be the breadwinners and bosses while women have to be the stay-at-home mothers? (Sidenote: There is nothing wrong with stay-at-home moms, but it should be a choice and not an assumption). Or are they just afraid that women can be better than men?
Some men obviously need a newsflash. Women are just as capable as men, and that is nothing that men should be afraid of.
