A self-proclaimed ‘mindset specialist’ has been slammed for a post on masculinity in which he said femininity can also be toxic.
Melbourne-based muscle model and body-builder Keegan Thornhill told his Facebook followers ‘masculinity is no more toxic than femininity’ on Monday.
The post was published on the same day as tens of thousands protested sexual violence against women in 40 Australian cities and towns, which Mr Thornhill told Daily Mail Australia was unintentional.
The marches followed an allegation by former political staffer Brittany Higgins that she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House.
The allegation has prompted a renewed discussion about women’s safety and whether survivors of assault are dealt with properly.
Body recomposition and mindset specialist Keegan Thornhill (pictured centre with two female body builders) has been slammed for a post on masculinity in which he said femininity can also be toxic
The Melbourne-based muscle model (pictured) told his Facebook followers ‘masculinity is no more toxic than femininity’ on Monday
The post (pictured) was published on the same day as tens of thousands protested sexual violence against women in 40 Australian cities and towns
On Facebook Mr Thornhill said at extremes both femininity and masculinity can be ‘toxic’ and it comes down to the person, not their gender.
‘Masculinity is no more toxic than femininity… Yeah, I said it,’ starts Mr Thornhill’s post.
‘The problem in our society is not men and their masculinity.
‘But rather the overly glorified feminine narrative driven into society giving men no place to be thriving men without the judgement and belittling from this overly PC culture we have adopted.’
‘Toxic masculinity’ is the idea that extreme levels of traits considered manly – such as being tough, dominant, not showing emotion and being sexually virile – can turn lead to men repressing their feelings, and controlling and harming women or other men.
The notion of ‘toxic femininity’ is less widely used but can refer to women being passive aggressive, gossipy or putting other women down for pursuing things that are not considered ‘womanly’.
Some of Mr Thornhill’s followers did not believe the two things were as equally dangerous.
‘Tell me more about how I can kill a man with my bare bitchiness? Yeah, nah,’ said one woman.
A man asked, ‘Just wondering if you can tell me exactly how many men have been killed by “toxic femininity?”‘
‘Yeah, I remember all those headlines where men have been bludgeoned to death or been strapped in a car and set on fire by feminism,’ wrote another.
One woman said while she believed being manly was not toxic, there was a version of masculinity that caused harm towards females.
‘The version that tells them the way to solve their issues is to lash out at women, and at other men,’ she wrote.
‘The version that tells them they are entitled to a woman or a woman’s attention, no matter what that woman wants.
‘The version that tells them they have to raise their sons to be predators and their daughters to be prey.’
Other people agreed with Mr Thornhill’s post, such as one person who said she agreed it is toxic ‘if people are pushing too far one side’ of femininity or masculinity.
One woman commented on the post that while she believed being manly was not toxic, there was a version of masculinity that caused harm towards females (pictured)
On Facebook Mr Thornhill (pictured) said at extremes both femininity and masculinity can be ‘toxic’ and it comes down to the person, not their gender
Some of Mr Thornhill’s (pictured) followers did not believe the two things were as equally dangerous
#March4Justice rallies were held on Monday, and crowd members held signs. Pictured: A marcher at the Sydney protest on Monday afternoon
Mr Thornhill told Daily Mail Australia his post was ill-timed to coincide with women’s marches which he said had ‘angered a large feminist group’.
‘My message is always targeted towards men expressing that we must level up as men if we want to see the world a better place,’ he said.
‘Unfortunately, because I said that femininity is also capable of being toxic, and my post was ill timed to coincide with the day of a women’s march (which was completely unintentional).
‘But my message has always been consistent, “Be a better f***ing human”.’
#March4Justice rallies were held on Monday, and crowd members held signs saying, ‘You’re Not Listening’, ‘How Many Victims Do You Know?’ and ‘I Believe Her’.
Organisers demanded a raft of measures including independent investigations into all cases of gendered violence, a boost in public funding for prevention and the implementation of recommendations from a 2020 national inquiry into sexual harassment at work.
The protests were organised after former Liberal adviser Brittany Higgins said she was assaulted by another staffer and it was covered up by the party.
She spoke at a rally outside Parliament House, the building she was allegedly raped inside two years ago before being ‘silenced’ by party officials.
‘We fundamentally recognise the system is broken, the glass ceiling is still in place,’ she said at the march.
‘We are here because it is unfathomable that we are still having to fight this same stale, tired fight.’
Her confession prompted other women to come forward with similar claims about the same man.
Former Liberal Party adviser Brittany Higgins spoke at a rally outside Parliament House (pictured), the building she was allegedly raped inside two years ago before being ‘silenced’ by party officials
Ms Higgin’s confession prompted other women to come forward with similar claims about the same man and other allegations have been levelled against people within politics. Pictured: Protesters in Melbourne on March 15
Australian of the Year Grace Tame (pictured) is a sexual abuse survivor who was groomed and raped daily by her teacher as a high school student
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under intense scrutiny after denying that he knew of Ms Higgins’ allegations at the time – despite several senior advisers being aware – and for the way he has addressed her accusations since.
It has also been reported that women in the Labor party had recently alleged sexual harassment and assault by male colleagues in a private Facebook group.
Rally members said systemic change was needed beyond politics and across Australian society.
Australian of the Year Grace Tame is a sexual abuse survivor who was groomed and raped daily by her teacher as a high school student.
‘Evil thrives in silence,’ she told a crowd at the Hobart protest.
‘Behaviour unspoken, behaviour ignored, is behaviour endorsed.’
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