There’s ‘toxic feminity,’ too

It’s been a couple of months since I read Faye Flan’s opinion piece (“Bad medicine for toxic masculinity,” Jan. 28, Spokesman-Review), but the whole subject is haunting me still. The commentary reported that a new set of guidelines from the American Psychological Association propounds that stoicism, dominance and aggression are harmful and associated those traits with traditional masculinity. Why have we never heard the term “toxic femininity”? Since when have those traits been absent in women? I’ve crossed paths in my life with quite a few stoic, domineering and aggressive women.

Also, to equate stoicism and dominance with aggression, rather than assertiveness, is just plain wrong. While aggression suggests unprovoked attacks, assertiveness is most often shown in confident leadership. Stoicism gives us strength to deal with adversity and control of our emotions. There would be few leaders without some degree of dominance.

But since any quality in excess can be harmful, I propose that in the interests of equal opportunity in behavioral health care, the American Psychological Association should be made aware of the traits inherent in traditional femininity that lead to toxicity.

Judith Maibie

Spokane