Toxic Masculinity Kills

Toxic
Masculinity Kills

Dear
Men,

Remember
when you made and laughed at jokes about women being bad drivers?
Well, statistically, you are more likely to die in a car accident.
Next time before you joke about how terrible of a driver a girl is,
you might want to stop and rethink this. The irony of your jokes
contributes to the unnecessary degradation of women. In the driver’s
seat, you are in control. You hold the lives of those in the car with
you, you hold your own life. At this point, you must be wondering how
toxic masculinity connects to this. It’s simple. Your constant need
to fit in the American society’s mold of what it is to be a man
directly impacts how you drive. Yes, that’s a thing. Let me help
paint the picture for you.

Statistically
speaking, men are 5.38 times more likely to be in an alcohol-related
car incident than women. Next time you drink, it is more than okay,
in fact, more respectable if you do not drive while you are
intoxicated. No, it is not a sign of weakness, rather a sign of
knowledge and care for your life. If you took the initiative to stop
yourself from driving while intoxicated, or even recommend your
friends to just refrain from driving until they are sober, you are
helping the numbers of car incidents go down; you are helping yours
and your friend’s lives from being taken by irresponsibility. Your
masculinity encourages you to drive even with alcohol in your body
and that is how toxic masculinity kills.

Statistically
speaking, men are 4.32 times more likely to be in a car accident
simply because they chose not to wear a seatbelt than women. Yes,
that simple precautionary act of being safe has been a reason why
another man does not live. How hard is it to not wear a seatbelt? Is
your masculinity refraining you? Is it the thrill of possible dangers
that excite you?

Statistically
speaking, men are 4.48 times more likely to be in a car accident for
speeding than women. I get it. The rush of excitement is unmatchable.
It is seen by American society that men crave excitement and danger.
Is that why you drive 100 miles per hour on a freeway? As a man, I
don’t get why anyone would want to risk their lives just to have
fun. I’m sorry that my masculinity is not strong enough to want to
put me in that position. While I personally have never experienced
car accidents before, the statistics help show you what really is
going on.

There
is nothing wrong with masculinity. However, if you start acting just
to prove it, that is when it becomes toxic. Be like women drivers
because, in the driver’s seat, You
are in control.

Bibliography

King,
Anthony. “Behind the Wheel: Driving by Demographic.” Cheapest
Car Insurance,
Cheap Car Insurance, 20 Apr. 2016,
www.cheapcarinsurance.net/behind-the-wheel-driving-by-demographic/.