Terry Crews has a simple way of describing toxic masculinity to men who don’t get it.

via Gage Skidmore / Flickr

When the term “toxic masculinity” gets bandied about, some males immediately take offense, believing the term assumes that masculinity is toxic in and of itself.

However, that’s not what it means.

The term “toxic” is before the term “masculinity,” which means it’s a form of masculinity. Toxic masculinity can manifest itself as bullying, catcalling, suppressing emotions, maintaining an appearance of hardness, and using violence as an indicator of power.

“Toxic masculinity is what can come of teaching boys that they can’t express emotion openly; that they have to be 'tough all the time'; that anything other than that makes them 'feminine' or weak,” Maya Salam wrote in The New York Times.

One amazing example of a man who exhibits many of the positive characteristics of masculinity (strength, courage, humor) while rejecting its negative the aspects, is actor and former NFL player, Terry Crews ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine).

So when a Twitter user named Alpha-Male_10201 asked him to define toxic masculinity, his response was blunt and revealing.

My father.

And toxicity is when he was punching my mother in the face.

Next question? https://t.co/rYRbqkULTm

— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 26, 2019

Crews, who has a bodybuilder's physique, surprised a lot of people when he came out as a victim of sexual assault as part of the #MeToo movement.

Crews went public about being groped by a high-level Hollywood executive to “deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless.”

Crews was approached about Toxic masculinity because of a larger debate happening between the actor and comedian D.L. Hughley. In August, Hughley told VLADTV, that Crews should have been able to fight off his attacker.

“I think it’s hard for me to think that a dude with all those muscles can’t tell an agent to not touch,” Hughley said.

@RealDLHughley

You told the world “God Gave Me Muscles So I Could Say No...”

Are you implying I “wanted” to be sexually assaulted?

I’m listening, sir...https://t.co/v6Q4xrvfJQ

— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 27, 2019

Hughley’s remarks inspired a scathing response from Crews.

“Sir you said I should have pushed him back, or restrained him and I DID ALL THOSE THINGS . . . but you act like I didn’t,” Crews tweeted. “Were you there?”

“That’s different than slapping the s--- outa him,” Hughley retorted, prompting Crews to deliver a verbal smackdown. “So sir . . . If you truly feel that is a correct way to deal with toxic behavior . . . Should I slap the s--- out of you?” Crews asked.

The exchange inspired rapper Billy the Goat to start #SlapHimTerry to support "men holding other men accountable."

I would like to introduce #SlapHimTerry as an extension of the #MeToo movement — this branch is in support of men holding other men accountable. Despite the name, this is a non-violent group.

Unless you’re DL Hughley.

— Billy the GOAT (@oranicuhh) January 27, 2019

I genuinely feel for @terrycrews. He spoke up about something that hurt him & made him feel violated & uncomfortable. Now he has to fight an onslaught of men questioning not only his being a man, but his blackness as well. This is why toxic masculinity persists. #SlapHimTerry

— Aveline (@avelita_) January 27, 2019

THIS is the work Terry Crews is doing that feminist dudes often don’t. He is publicly calling out other men, even those he considered friends or heroes.

Too often, dudes say they’re allies, then let other men get away with some heinous shit. #SlapHimTerry https://t.co/d7cgFdB1oL

— morgaine lefayle (@hktparty) January 27, 2019

@RealDLHughley That WHOLE video was toxic. Right from the beginning they were laughing. There is NOTHING funny about being raped and sexual assault. This is NOT what being a comedian is about. EVERYTHING AINT FUNNY.... #SlapHimTerry

— Nickela (@Nickelaaaa) January 28, 2019

I don't like #SlapHimTerry. Terry Crews is doing great work to challenge toxic concepts of masculinity. And I think a hashtag supporting violence kinda contradicts that. Even jokingly promoting violence and saying, "but we're non-violent" after kind of sends a mixed message.

— Dan the HuMan (@JetPresto) January 27, 2019

#SlapHimTerry
Terry Cruz is a fantastic model of divine masculinity. All of the men making light of male sexual assault don't deserve Terry for helping to shape future discussions on this topic for their sons.

— Lauryn (@TheIndigoTimes) January 27, 2019

from Upworthy https://u.pw/2WtXBAf