Toxic Masculinity?

 

To what or
To whom?

The noun itself or
The dosage?

Breathing air kills a goldfish
Lungs full of drinkable water,
will kill a human

Table salt is death to a garden slug
Yet it makes the gravy over my rice taste fantastic
Nearly as satisfying as the cube steak from whence comes its flavor

Salt does not make proper lemonade
Neither does sugar create a spicier chili

But without bravado and brashness and puffery some folks might never become as brave as they claim

Fearless, hard-hearted masculinity can't be all bad

Tell me when last you heard of a wife preferring a man who huddles beneath the covers with her when a door gets kicked in at 2 a.m.

The power of proper masculinity let's a man ignore his discomfort and control his fears long enough to function bravely for those who depend upon him

Masculinity?
Toxic?

To what?
and/or to whom?