Toxic Masculinity in India – And the Case for Healthy Masculinity

Masculinity in itself is not harmful—but when it is defined by domination, control, and suppression of vulnerability, it becomes toxic. In India, toxic masculinity draws from patriarchy, caste hierarchies, colonial legacies, and modern consumer culture. It harms women and men alike, and its effects ripple across families, workplaces, and society.

At the same time, India’s cultural traditions and modern movements also provide pathways for healthier, more compassionate forms of masculinity. Understanding both sides is critical if India is to move forward toward equality.

How Toxic Masculinity Looks in India

1. Control Over Women’s Bodies and Choices

A man’s “honor” is often tied to controlling women in his family. This fuels early marriages, restrictions on women’s mobility, and even “honor killings.” From dress codes to curfews, women are policed under the guise of “protection.” Sexual violence, from catcalling to gang rapes, stems from this entitlement to women’s bodies.

2. Aggression as a Marker of Manhood

Men are socialized to prove masculinity through anger and dominance. Domestic violence (experienced by nearly 30% of Indian women, NFHS-5) and road rage are byproducts of this culture. Bollywood amplifies the image of the hyper-masculine “hero” who solves problems through fists, not dialogue.

3. Suppressing Emotions (Except Anger)

Boys are taught “Ladke rote nahi” (boys don’t cry). Vulnerability is seen as weakness, leading to emotional repression. This has devastating consequences: men account for 71% of suicides in India (NCRB 2022), a silent epidemic tied to isolation and suppressed mental health struggles.

4. Caste, Class, and Masculinity

Dominant caste men often display masculinity through control of land, labor, and women’s sexuality. Working-class men, excluded from privilege, may assert masculinity through aggression or substance use—masking vulnerability with bravado.

5. Sexual Double Standards

Male promiscuity is normalized, while women are shamed for similar behavior. Virginity tests, purity culture, and moral policing reinforce this. LGBTQ+ men face ridicule and violence, since their existence challenges rigid gender norms.

6. Workplace and Public Spaces

From subtle dismissals to harassment, women encounter toxic masculinity daily in offices. “Boys’ clubs” dominate politics, business, and tech. Men interrupt women in meetings, refuse female leadership, or trivialize women’s achievements.

7. Pop Culture Reinforcement

Bollywood frequently normalizes stalking as romance. Action heroes (Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn archetypes) are celebrated for aggression, while softer male characters are mocked. Cricket fandom often equates nationalism with hyper-masculine pride.

8. Family and Parenting Roles

Housework remains a “woman’s duty,” with men expected only to provide financially. Few men take paternity leave or share childcare responsibilities, perpetuating gender imbalance in families.

9. Politics and Nationalism

Leaders use masculine imagery—“56-inch chest”—to project dominance. Masculinity becomes conflated with nationalism, promoting aggression towards women, minorities, and neighboring countries.

10. Everyday Microaggressions

Phrases like “Tu ladki hai kya?” (Are you a girl?) are used as insults. Men are mocked for long hair, earrings, or artistic interests. Masculinity is tied to paying bills, driving, or initiating romance.

The Cost of Toxic Masculinity

• For Women: Violence, restricted freedom, exclusion from workplaces, and constant fear.

• For Men: Emotional isolation, mental health crises, pressure to conform, substance abuse.

• For Society: Reinforced inequality, cycles of violence, and suppressed creativity.

The Counter-Model: Healthy Masculinity for India

If toxic masculinity is about domination, healthy masculinity is about dignity. India has cultural, spiritual, and modern resources to model a healthier path.

1. Emotional Openness

Encouraging boys to express sadness, fear, or love without shame is crucial. Cinema, literature, and schools can normalize vulnerability as strength.

Example: Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry or Kabir’s verses often portrayed men as gentle seekers, not warriors. These are cultural blueprints India can reclaim.

2. Equality in Families

Healthy masculinity means men sharing parenting and household responsibilities. Fathers taking paternity leave, cooking, or openly nurturing their children challenges centuries of division.

Example: Modern campaigns like #ShareTheLoad (Ariel) highlight men doing household work as a marker of responsibility, not shame.

3. Respectful Relationships

Consent, partnership, and equality must define masculinity. This means rejecting the “stalker as lover” trope and embracing romance rooted in respect.

4. Non-Violence as Strength

Drawing from Gandhi’s philosophy and India’s spiritual traditions, masculinity can be rooted in calm courage rather than aggression.

Example: Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar modeled leadership through intellect and negotiation, not dominance.

5. Inclusive Masculinity

Men supporting LGBTQ+ rights, women’s leadership, and caste equity dismantle toxic hierarchies. True masculinity expands freedom rather than restricting it.

6. Care for Community and Environment

Healthy masculinity values protection not as control, but as responsibility—for women, communities, and nature. This shifts masculinity from ego to stewardship.

7. Redefining Role Models

Instead of Bollywood’s violent heroes, India needs narratives celebrating men as caregivers, educators, artists, and allies.

Example: Actors like Ayushmann Khurrana often take on roles challenging stereotypes—men struggling with body image, consent, or patriarchy.

Conclusion: A Roadmap Forward

Toxic masculinity in India thrives on control, aggression, and denial of vulnerability. But it is not inevitable. By reclaiming cultural traditions of compassion, embracing gender equality, and reshaping public narratives, India can nurture healthier models of manhood.

Healthy masculinity is not about weakening men—it is about freeing them. Freeing men from the burden of dominance, freeing women from the weight of fear, and freeing society from cycles of violence and repression.

The question is not whether India can afford to change. It is whether India can afford not to.