37+ Masculine Traits: Meaning, Examples, Strengths, Healthy Masculinity & Common Misconceptions

Masculine traits are qualities, behaviors, attitudes, and social characteristics that a particular culture commonly associates with men or masculinity. Common examples include confidence, courage, assertiveness, responsibility, resilience, leadership, independence, protectiveness, emotional steadiness, and physical strength. However, masculine traits are not a fixed checklist, and no single set of qualities defines every man.

Modern psychology treats masculinity as broader and more flexible than stereotypes suggest. The American Psychological Association notes that masculinities are shaped by social, cultural, and contextual influences, meaning expectations can differ across communities, generations, situations, and individual lives..

Quick Answer: What Are Masculine Traits?

Masculine traits are characteristics traditionally or culturally associated with masculinity. They can include strength, confidence, assertiveness, courage, independence, leadership, protectiveness, perseverance, responsibility, competitiveness, and emotional composure.

Importantly, these qualities are not exclusive to men. Women and people of any gender can display them, and individual men may show some, many, or none of them. Masculinity also varies between cultures and historical periods. The APA describes masculinity in terms of multiple “masculinities” rather than one universal model.

A useful way to think about masculine traits is:

Healthy masculinity is not about proving that you are a man; it is about developing strengths while remaining flexible, responsible, emotionally aware, and respectful.

Masculine Traits at a Glance

Trait	What it can look like	Healthy expression
Confidence	Trusting your abilities	Confidence without arrogance
Courage	Facing difficult situations	Taking sensible risks for worthwhile goals
Assertiveness	Expressing needs and boundaries	Directness without intimidation
Responsibility	Owning duties and consequences	Accountability instead of blame
Resilience	Recovering after setbacks	Adapting rather than suppressing feelings
Independence	Handling tasks on your own	Self-reliance while accepting help
Leadership	Guiding or supporting others	Service, fairness, and accountability
Protectiveness	Caring about others’ safety	Support without controlling behavior
Discipline	Staying committed to goals	Consistency without unhealthy rigidity
Emotional steadiness	Remaining composed under pressure	Regulating emotions rather than denying them
Competence	Developing useful skills	Confidence based on learning and practice
Loyalty	Standing by people and principles	Healthy commitment with boundaries
Initiative	Acting without constant direction	Responsible action and good judgment
Integrity	Matching actions with values	Honesty even when inconvenient
Empathy	Understanding others’ feelings	Compassion combined with boundaries

What Does Masculine Mean?

“Masculine” generally refers to qualities, behaviors, roles, or styles that a society associates with men or masculinity.

The word does not automatically mean “biologically male.” This distinction matters because biological sex characteristics and culturally masculine behaviors are different concepts.

For example, a deeper voice can be influenced by biological development, while being decisive in a workplace meeting is a behavioral characteristic that a culture may perceive as masculine. Likewise, being protective may be culturally associated with men, but caring for other people is not biologically limited to men.

Psychology therefore examines masculinity through multiple lenses, including personality, socialization, culture, gender roles, development, relationships, health, and individual differences. The APA’s field of psychology of men and masculinities specifically recognizes biological, psychological, social, and cultural influences.

Masculinity Is Not the Same as Being Male

A person can be male without strongly identifying with traditional masculine norms. Likewise, traits commonly labeled masculine can be expressed by people of many genders.

This distinction prevents a common mistake: assuming that every male person should behave in the same way.

Masculinity can influence expectations, but it does not completely determine personality.

Masculinity Changes Across Cultures and Time

What counts as masculine is not identical everywhere.

One community may emphasize being a provider and protector. Another may place greater value on family responsibility, humility, intellectual achievement, spirituality, craftsmanship, or community leadership.

Even within one society, expectations change across generations.

The APA’s guidelines emphasize that masculinity is constructed through social, cultural, and contextual norms and that different groups can develop different forms of masculinity.

The Most Common Masculine Traits

There is no scientifically universal list of masculine personality traits. Still, several characteristics are frequently associated with traditional or contemporary ideas of masculinity.

1. Confidence

Confidence means trusting your ability to handle a situation, make decisions, or learn what you do not yet know.

Healthy confidence is different from superiority.

Example: A manager confidently presents a proposal but remains willing to hear criticism.

Healthy form: “I believe I can handle this.”

Unhealthy form: “I am better than everyone else.”

2. Courage

Courage involves acting despite fear, uncertainty, or discomfort.

It does not mean being fearless.

A courageous person may admit a mistake, confront unfair behavior, protect someone vulnerable, seek help, or attempt something difficult.

True courage sometimes involves choosing not to fight, not to retaliate, or not to take an unnecessary risk.

3. Assertiveness

Assertiveness is the ability to communicate thoughts, needs, boundaries, and decisions clearly.

A common misconception is that assertiveness means being aggressive. It does not.

For example:

“I disagree with that decision, and here is why.”

is assertive.

By contrast:

“You will do what I say because I am in charge.”

is controlling.

Healthy masculine confidence can include direct communication without intimidation.

4. Responsibility

Responsibility is one of the most useful traits associated with mature adulthood.

A responsible person:

• Keeps commitments.
• Takes care of important duties.
• Admits mistakes.
• Thinks about consequences.
• Does not constantly blame others.
• Follows through when circumstances become difficult.

Responsibility becomes especially important in relationships, parenting, employment, finances, and leadership.

5. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to adapt after setbacks.

It is often confused with emotional toughness. They are not identical.

A resilient man may feel disappointed, anxious, angry, or sad while still finding a constructive way forward.

That distinction matters because suppressing emotions is not the same as regulating them. APA materials on boys and men specifically discuss pressure around emotional expression and the potential problems associated with rigid masculine norms.

6. Self-Control

Self-control means managing impulses instead of allowing every emotion or desire to determine behavior.

It can appear as:

• Remaining calm during an argument.
• Avoiding an unnecessary fight.
• Delaying gratification.
• Controlling spending.
• Walking away from provocation.
• Thinking before speaking.

Self-control does not mean having no emotions. It means choosing how to respond to them.

7. Independence

Independence traditionally ranks highly among masculine ideals.

Healthy independence means being capable of handling responsibilities and making decisions for yourself.

However, extreme self-reliance can become counterproductive.

There is a major difference between:

“I can handle this myself.”

and:

“I must never ask anyone for help.”

The second belief can isolate a person unnecessarily.

8. Leadership

Leadership is often described as a masculine trait, but leadership itself is not inherently male.

Healthy leadership involves:

• Setting direction.
• Making decisions.
• Accepting responsibility.
• Listening to others.
• Protecting the team’s interests.
• Giving credit.
• Correcting mistakes.
• Developing other people.

The strongest leader in a room is not necessarily the loudest person. Often, effective leadership looks like calm decision-making and responsible action.

9. Protectiveness

Protectiveness can mean caring about the safety, dignity, and well-being of people you value.

Healthy protection respects another person’s autonomy.

For example, a partner may support someone during a difficult situation without deciding everything for them.

Protection becomes unhealthy when it turns into surveillance, jealousy, possessiveness, threats, or control.

10. Discipline

Discipline is the ability to continue working toward a goal even when motivation disappears.

It can involve:

• Exercise.
• Studying.
• Saving money.
• Building a career.
• Practicing a skill.
• Keeping promises.
• Maintaining healthy routines.

Discipline becomes more useful when combined with flexibility. A person who refuses to adapt even when circumstances change is not necessarily more disciplined; they may simply be rigid.

11. Loyalty

Loyalty involves maintaining commitment to people, relationships, principles, or responsibilities.

Healthy loyalty does not require supporting everything someone does.

A loyal friend can say:

“I care about you, but I think you handled that badly.”

That combination of commitment and honesty is often stronger than unconditional agreement.

12. Integrity

Integrity means behaving consistently with your values, especially when nobody is watching.

It includes:

• Honesty.
• Keeping promises.
• Fairness.
• Accountability.
• Respect.
• Ethical decision-making.

Integrity is one of the traits that can transform other qualities. Confidence without integrity can become arrogance. Strength without integrity can become intimidation. Leadership without integrity can become manipulation.

Traditional Masculine Traits vs. Healthy Masculinity

Traditional masculine norms can contain useful strengths, but they can also become restrictive when treated as mandatory rules.

Traditional expectation	Healthier interpretation
Never show weakness	Develop resilience and know when to seek support
Always be dominant	Lead responsibly and respect others
Never cry	Allow emotional expression without losing self-control
Solve everything alone	Be capable while accepting appropriate help
Always win	Compete fairly and learn from losses
Never apologize	Take responsibility when you cause harm
Be physically tough	Care for your body without making toughness your identity
Protect at all costs	Support others without controlling them
Hide fear	Recognize fear and act wisely despite it
Always stay emotionally detached	Stay composed while remaining emotionally connected

The APA’s guidance does not suggest eliminating masculinity. Instead, it emphasizes more flexible ways of expressing masculinity that can preserve strengths while reducing harmful rigidity.

Positive Masculine Traits vs. Harmful Masculine Stereotypes

The same quality can have a constructive or destructive expression.

Positive quality	Healthy expression	Harmful extreme
Strength	Endurance and capability	Intimidation
Confidence	Self-belief	Arrogance
Assertiveness	Clear communication	Aggression
Independence	Self-sufficiency	Isolation
Competitiveness	Motivation to improve	Obsession with winning
Protectiveness	Care and support	Possessiveness
Toughness	Resilience	Emotional suppression
Leadership	Service and responsibility	Domination
Ambition	Goal-setting	Status obsession
Courage	Responsible action	Recklessness
Discipline	Consistency	Rigidity
Loyalty	Commitment	Enabling harmful behavior

This is an important principle: a trait itself is not always good or bad; its expression, intensity, context, and consequences matter.

Emotional Strength Is Part of Healthy Masculinity

One of the most persistent stereotypes about masculinity is that emotionally strong men should not experience or express vulnerable emotions.

Psychological guidance presents a more nuanced picture. The APA identifies emotional restriction as one area where rigid masculine norms can create difficulties and encourages healthier, more flexible forms of masculinity.

Emotional strength can include:

• Naming what you feel.
• Staying calm during conflict.
• Apologizing when necessary.
• Talking about stress.
• Asking for support.
• Showing affection.
• Comforting another person.
• Setting emotional boundaries.
• Recovering after disappointment.

A man who says, “I am struggling and could use some help,” is not necessarily displaying weakness. In many circumstances, recognizing a problem early and responding appropriately is a sign of maturity.

Are Masculine Traits Innate or Learned?

Some characteristics associated with masculinity can have biological influences, while many gendered behaviors and expectations are shaped by learning, culture, family, peers, institutions, and social environments.

It is therefore misleading to divide every masculine characteristic into a simple “born this way” or “learned” category.

For example, physical characteristics such as muscle development, facial hair, or voice changes are influenced by biological development. But expectations such as “men should never cry,” “men must always provide,” or “men should dominate conversations” are social norms rather than biological laws.

The APA specifically describes masculinities as influenced by social, cultural, and contextual factors and notes that gender roles should not be treated as a single universal model.

Masculine Traits in Different Areas of Life

Masculine Traits in Relationships

Healthy relationships benefit from qualities such as:

• Honesty.
• Reliability.
• Emotional availability.
• Respect.
• Protection without control.
• Communication.
• Accountability.
• Affection.
• Patience.

A mature partner does not need to dominate a relationship to feel secure.

For example, if two partners disagree about finances, constructive masculinity might look like calmly discussing the problem, reviewing the numbers, listening to both perspectives, and agreeing on a plan.

Masculine Traits in the Workplace

At work, commonly valued traits may include:

• Confidence.
• Initiative.
• Leadership.
• Reliability.
• Decisiveness.
• Problem-solving.
• Accountability.
• Persistence.

However, modern workplaces also depend heavily on cooperation, listening, empathy, communication, and adaptability.

A person who can make decisions but cannot listen to colleagues may struggle as a leader.

Masculine Traits in Fatherhood

Healthy fatherhood can involve:

• Protection.
• Patience.
• Responsibility.
• Emotional presence.
• Consistency.
• Teaching.
• Encouragement.
• Boundaries.
• Affection.

Being emotionally present does not make a father less masculine. It can strengthen the parent-child relationship.

Masculine Traits in Friendship

Strong friendships often depend on qualities such as:

• Loyalty.
• Trust.
• Humor.
• Reliability.
• Honesty.
• Mutual support.
• Respect.

A friendship does not become less meaningful simply because male friends discuss difficult emotions or express affection.

Masculine Traits in Leadership

Leadership often reveals the difference between strength and dominance.

A dominant person may focus on control.

A strong leader focuses on responsibility.

For example, during a workplace crisis, a mature leader might say:

“Here is what we know, here is what we do not know, and here is what we are going to do next.”

That combines confidence, composure, honesty, and accountability.

15 Real-Life Examples of Masculine Traits

1. Admitting a Mistake at Work

A man notices that his decision caused a project delay. Instead of blaming a colleague, he explains what happened and helps correct it.

Traits shown: accountability, integrity, courage.

2. Standing Up for a Friend

Someone hears a false rumor about a friend and calmly challenges the claim rather than joining the gossip.

Traits shown: loyalty, courage, confidence.

3. Asking for Help

A person realizes that stress is affecting his daily life and talks with someone he trusts or seeks professional support.

Traits shown: self-awareness, responsibility, resilience.

4. Remaining Calm During Conflict

Two people become angry during an argument. Instead of escalating, he pauses and suggests continuing the conversation after everyone has calmed down.

Traits shown: self-control, emotional maturity.

5. Keeping a Promise

He commits to helping a family member move and shows up at the agreed time even though he would rather spend the day relaxing.

Traits shown: reliability, responsibility, loyalty.

6. Learning a Difficult Skill

A beginner repeatedly fails while learning a trade, sport, instrument, or technical skill but continues practicing.

Traits shown: discipline, perseverance.

7. Protecting Without Controlling

A friend is uncomfortable walking alone at night, so he offers to accompany her without demanding that she change her plans.

Traits shown: care, respect, protectiveness.

8. Accepting Rejection

Someone is turned down for a job and uses the experience to improve his interview skills rather than insulting the employer.

Traits shown: resilience, self-control, maturity.

9. Giving Credit

A team succeeds because another employee developed the key idea. The leader publicly recognizes that contribution.

Traits shown: confidence, fairness, leadership.

10. Setting a Boundary

A relative repeatedly speaks disrespectfully to him. He calmly says that the behavior is unacceptable and ends the conversation when it continues.

Traits shown: assertiveness, self-respect.

11. Supporting a Child Emotionally

A father notices his child is upset and listens instead of immediately telling the child to “toughen up.”

Traits shown: empathy, patience, emotional strength.

12. Refusing an Unnecessary Fight

A person is insulted in public but decides that proving himself through violence would create more problems.

Traits shown: restraint, judgment, confidence.

13. Taking Care of Health

A man notices a persistent health concern and schedules appropriate medical care instead of ignoring it.

Traits shown: responsibility, self-awareness.

14. Leading Through Uncertainty

A business owner faces an unexpected problem and communicates honestly with employees while developing a practical response.

Traits shown: leadership, courage, accountability.

15. Changing an Old Belief

A man realizes that he was taught never to discuss emotions and decides to develop better communication skills.

Traits shown: humility, adaptability, emotional intelligence.

A Simple Decision Guide: Is a Masculine Trait Healthy?

Ask these five questions:

Does it make you more capable?
If yes, it may be a useful strength.

↓

Does it respect other people’s autonomy?
If yes, it is less likely to become controlling.

↓

Can you adapt when circumstances change?
If yes, the trait is probably being used flexibly.

↓

Can you express vulnerability when necessary?
If yes, strength is not dependent on emotional suppression.

↓

Does the behavior produce constructive results rather than fear or harm?
If yes, it is more consistent with healthy masculinity.

This framework is more useful than asking whether a behavior simply “looks masculine.”

Common Misconceptions About Masculine Traits

Myth: Real Men Never Cry

Fact: Emotional expression is not a reliable measure of strength.

A person can remain capable and responsible while experiencing sadness, grief, fear, or frustration. Rigid expectations around emotional restriction are recognized in psychological discussions of traditional masculinity.

Myth: Masculinity Means Being Aggressive

Fact: Aggression is only one possible behavior associated with certain traditional masculine norms.

Courage, assertiveness, discipline, responsibility, and leadership can be expressed without aggression.

Myth: Masculine Men Must Be Physically Strong

Fact: Physical strength can be associated with masculine ideals, but masculinity is much broader than body size, muscle mass, height, facial hair, or athletic ability.

A man with limited physical strength can still demonstrate courage, discipline, responsibility, leadership, and integrity.

Myth: Masculinity Means Never Needing Help

Fact: Healthy independence includes recognizing when assistance is appropriate.

Extreme self-reliance can prevent people from receiving useful support.

Myth: Masculine Men Must Dominate Others

Fact: Leadership and domination are different.

Leadership can involve listening, cooperation, service, accountability, and shared decision-making.

Myth: Caring Is Unmasculine

Fact: Compassion and care are compatible with healthy masculine identities. APA materials specifically identify compassion among characteristics that can be associated with positive psychological and behavioral health.

Myth: There Is Only One Correct Way to Be Masculine

Fact: There are multiple masculinities.

Culture, age, family background, social environment, personality, occupation, relationships, and individual values can influence how masculinity is understood and expressed.

Healthy Masculinity vs. Toxic Masculinity

The phrase “toxic masculinity” is often misunderstood. It does not mean that masculinity itself is toxic.

It generally refers to harmful norms or behaviors associated with restrictive versions of masculinity, particularly when traits such as dominance, emotional suppression, aggression, or extreme self-reliance are treated as necessary proof of manhood.

The APA discusses harmful masculine constructs in relation to rigid expectations such as toughness, stoicism, self-sufficiency, and lack of emotional sensitivity.

Healthy masculinity	Harmful rigidity
Confidence	Arrogance
Strength	Intimidation
Courage	Recklessness
Leadership	Domination
Independence	Isolation
Self-control	Emotional suppression
Protection	Possessiveness
Competition	Obsession with winning
Loyalty	Blind allegiance
Discipline	Inflexibility
Assertiveness	Aggression
Resilience	Refusal to acknowledge problems

The goal is not to eliminate masculine qualities. It is to develop them in ways that support personal well-being and healthy relationships.

Masculine Traits vs. Personality Traits

Masculinity and personality are related but different concepts.

Masculine traits	Personality traits
Often shaped by gender expectations	Describe broader individual tendencies
Influenced strongly by culture and social norms	Influenced by many biological and environmental factors
Can vary across cultures	Also vary greatly among individuals
Include culturally masculine behaviors	Include traits such as extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness
Are not exclusive to men	Apply to people regardless of gender

For example, assertiveness may be viewed as masculine in a particular culture, but assertiveness is not exclusive to men.

Masculine Traits vs. Biological Male Characteristics

These concepts should not be confused.

Biological characteristics can include physical or physiological features influenced by sex development.

Masculine traits generally refer to behavioral, psychological, social, or cultural qualities associated with masculinity.

A beard is not a personality trait. Confidence is not a biological sex characteristic. Leadership is not proof of male biology.

Keeping these categories separate produces a more accurate understanding of the topic.

Related Traits and Concepts

Masculine traits overlap with several broader concepts:

• Assertiveness: Expressing needs and opinions clearly.
• Confidence: Trusting your abilities without requiring superiority.
• Resilience: Adapting after adversity.
• Emotional intelligence: Recognizing and managing emotions while understanding others.
• Self-efficacy: Believing that you can perform actions needed to achieve a goal.
• Leadership: Influencing or guiding people toward a shared objective.
• Integrity: Acting consistently with ethical values.
• Discipline: Maintaining purposeful behavior over time.
• Independence: Functioning without unnecessary dependence.
• Responsibility: Accepting duties and consequences.
• Courage: Acting appropriately despite fear or uncertainty.
• Compassion: Responding to suffering with care.
• Emotional regulation: Managing emotional responses rather than denying them.
• Healthy boundaries: Protecting personal limits while respecting others.

These qualities can work together. For example, good leadership may require confidence, emotional regulation, empathy, courage, and accountability at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common masculine traits?

Commonly recognized masculine traits include confidence, courage, assertiveness, independence, strength, resilience, leadership, responsibility, discipline, protectiveness, competitiveness, and emotional composure. These are cultural associations rather than universal requirements for men.

What are strong masculine traits?

Strong masculine traits can include integrity, courage, responsibility, self-control, resilience, discipline, confidence, leadership, loyalty, and emotional maturity. Strength is most useful when combined with judgment and respect.

What makes a man masculine?

There is no single behavior, body type, personality, or appearance that makes someone masculine. Masculinity is influenced by cultural and social expectations as well as personal identity and individual behavior.

Are masculine traits learned?

Many behaviors associated with masculinity are influenced by socialization, including messages from family, peers, media, institutions, and cultural traditions. Some physical characteristics associated with male development have biological influences, so masculine traits should not all be placed into one biological or social category.

Can women have masculine traits?

Yes. Traits such as confidence, assertiveness, courage, leadership, independence, and competitiveness are not exclusive to men. The fact that a culture labels a quality “masculine” does not make the quality biologically male.

Is being emotional a masculine trait?

Emotionality itself is not exclusively masculine or feminine. Healthy masculinity can include emotional awareness, appropriate emotional expression, empathy, and emotional regulation. Rigid expectations that men should suppress emotions can create difficulties.

Is confidence the same as masculinity?

No. Confidence is a personality-related quality that can be expressed by anyone. Some cultures associate confidence with masculinity, but confidence does not determine whether someone is masculine.

Is aggression a masculine trait?

Aggression has historically been included in some traditional masculine norms, but it should not be treated as a requirement of masculinity. Assertiveness and courage can exist without aggression. The APA has specifically examined harmful masculine constructs and their relationship to violence.

What is healthy masculinity?

Healthy masculinity is a flexible way of expressing masculine identity that allows strengths such as courage, responsibility, confidence, leadership, and resilience while also allowing empathy, emotional connection, vulnerability, cooperation, and help-seeking when appropriate. APA guidance emphasizes flexible approaches to masculinity rather than a rigid single model.

What is toxic masculinity?

“Toxic masculinity” generally refers to harmful or restrictive masculine norms and behaviors, not masculinity as a whole. Examples can include extreme dominance, emotional suppression, aggression, possessiveness, and the belief that asking for help is unacceptable.

Are physical strength and masculinity the same thing?

No. Physical strength can be culturally associated with masculinity, but masculinity also involves social, behavioral, psychological, and cultural dimensions. A person’s physical ability does not determine their worth or masculine identity.

Can a quiet man have masculine traits?

Absolutely. Masculinity does not require being loud, dominant, or highly extroverted. A quiet person can demonstrate courage, leadership, confidence, discipline, responsibility, and integrity.

Does being masculine mean being dominant in a relationship?

No. Healthy relationships depend on mutual respect rather than one person’s domination. Leadership, initiative, protection, and confidence can coexist with equality and shared decision-making.

Can masculine traits change over time?

Yes. People’s values, behaviors, identities, relationships, and social environments can change. Cultural definitions of masculinity also change over time. The APA’s work on masculinities emphasizes that masculine roles are influenced by social and cultural context.

Key Takeaways

• Masculine traits are qualities commonly associated with masculinity in a particular culture or social context.
• Common examples include confidence, courage, responsibility, resilience, assertiveness, leadership, discipline, independence, and protectiveness.
• Masculine traits are not exclusive to men.
• Masculinity is not one universal personality type.
• Different cultures and generations can have different expectations of masculinity.
• Healthy masculinity allows strength and emotional awareness to coexist.
• Emotional expression does not automatically contradict masculinity.
• Independence is valuable, but refusing all help can become unhealthy.
• Leadership is different from domination.
• Protection is different from control.
• Assertiveness is different from aggression.
• Resilience is different from emotional suppression.
• Physical appearance does not determine masculine character.
• Integrity, responsibility, empathy, and accountability can strengthen traditionally masculine qualities.
• The healthiest approach is flexible rather than rigid: keep useful strengths while rejecting behaviors that harm yourself or others.

Conclusion

Masculine traits are best understood as a collection of qualities that societies and individuals may associate with masculinity rather than as a universal checklist for men. Confidence, courage, strength, independence, discipline, leadership, responsibility, resilience, and protectiveness are common examples, but none of them is required to prove someone’s masculinity.

The most constructive approach is to develop these qualities with self-awareness, empathy, flexibility, and accountability. A confident man can still listen. A strong man can still be compassionate. A resilient man can admit that something hurts. A leader can share power. An independent person can ask for help.

References

• American Psychological Association. Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. The guidelines discuss masculinity as socially, culturally, and contextually influenced and emphasize the diversity of masculinities.
• American Psychological Association. A Closer Look at the APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. Covers positive characteristics associated with masculinity as well as concerns surrounding rigid masculine norms and emotional restriction.
• American Psychological Association. Rethinking Masculinity to Build Healthier Outcomes. Discusses contemporary research and the effects of rigid gender norms on boys and men’s well-being.
• American Psychological Association. How to Prevent Harmful Masculinity and Violence. Examines harmful masculine constructs and approaches to developing healthier masculine identities.
• American Psychological Association. APA Handbook of Men and Masculinities. Provides an interdisciplinary overview of biological, psychological, social, and cultural perspectives on men and masculinities.
• American Psychological Association. Psychology of Men & Masculinities. Professional journal covering gender norms, gender-role conflict, relationships, health, development, and related research.