The best men can be: The Gillette ad and 'toxic masculinity'

Recently the Gillette Co., which has the longstanding motto "The Best a Man Can Get," released an ad, "The best men can be," warning about “toxic masculinity” that, though in my view totally on the one, has raised hackles among a number of conservatives — many of whom are saying that they’re boycotting the company — for attacking masculinity in general. (It doesn’t affect me personally because I’ve always used electric razors.)

I’ve seen the ad, which denounces catcalling and unwanted touching of women and bullying against anyone; I’ve personally seen the former and experienced the latter. Going further, I’ve been around “toxic masculinity,” even in my home, and want no part of it myself (indeed, that in part drove me to the Christian faith in the first place).

Thus, to call the ad an attack on masculinity itself is flatly ridiculous. After all, as disparate entities as The Good Men Project, an internet community, and Christian author John Eldredge, who writes about masculine development, have mentioned some of the very same things in their writings. What’s the difference?

It seems to me that the ad goes to the basic fear of conservatives: Cultural change that they didn’t order. You see, it was inspired by the #metoo movement, which was started by liberal women — and if there’s anything conservatives hate, it’s promoting social and cultural change that’s seen at their expense or without their permission.

Recently Dennis Prager, as part of his “PragerU” propaganda series, released a video praising the virtues of masculinity. But the narrator doesn’t even touch the actual — and legitimate — issue of abuse that the ad addresses, and that’s probably by design.

And let’s not forget another entity here: President Trump, the current epitome of toxic masculinity for reasons I've already rehearsed in other posts.

(I know what people are saying: “What about Bill Clinton?” Never mind that — because of Hillary.)

Interestingly enough, the PragerU video praises masculinity and encourages men to take responsibility. Nothing wrong with that.

So does the Gillette ad, by the way.