‘Toxic Masculinity’: People Hating On These ‘Inappropriate’ Dad And Son Pics Get Shut Down With The Perfect Response
There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving and hugging your dad! The relationship between a father and son is unique and should be cherished. And there are plenty of men in the world who would give anything to embrace their dads one last time.
However, the internet can be a nasty place. And trolls will try to ruin beautiful things like hugs from dads. This is exactly what happened when Eric Owens posted a collage of intimate photos where he hugs his son some time ago. Trolls came out of the woodwork and started slandering the images.
There were some positives, though. Others stepped in to defend Owens and his viral post. And one of the responses online was incredibly spot-on, highlighted the importance of talking about toxic masculinity, and explained that some men are irrationally afraid of showing affection.
Eric Owens shared a collage of wholesome, affectionate photos of himself and his son
Image credits: Eric Owens
Image credits: Eric Owens
Image credits: Eric Owens
Image credits: Eric Owens
Image credits: Eric Owens
However, some folks on the internet thought that the pictures were strange and unmanly…
Image credits: ithelpstodream
Image credits: ithelpstodream
Image credits: ithelpstodream
Meanwhile, a Tumblr user thought that they were perfect examples of toxic masculinity
Image credits: ithelpstodream
Bored Panda has already talked about how some people on the internet respond to dad hugs in our earlier post about a photo where the President-Elect of the United States, Joe Biden, is hugging his son, Hunter. Owens’ collage drew out a nearly identical reaction from some internet users.
Owens’ wholesome and honest post for his son’s then-18th birthday got more than 34k likes, was shared over 3k times, and (unsurprisingly) got 3k comments, too.
While toxic masculinity is a very broad term that can mean a lot of different things, in this context, it refers to one thing and one thing only—how some men believe that being emotionally vulnerable and open (stereotypically seen as feminine traits) is a negative thing. That paves the way for repressed emotions and can lead to all sorts of emotional and psychological problems.
According to The Good Men Project, culturally, strength is seen as manly while being emotional is perceived as weakness. However, masculinity is a very deep rabbit hole with lots of different perspectives, viewpoints, and ideas.
And there are always two sides to every story: some see gender roles as social constructs while others believe they’re a natural part of being human. However, whatever your views about masculinity and being a man, I think that most of us can agree that getting a hug from your dad is awesome.
What do you think of Owens’ photos, dear Pandas? Do you have an opinion about toxic masculinity? When’s the last time you hugged your dad? Share your thoughts and feelings with all of the other readers in the comment section right below.
Here’s what some other people had to say about the topic (spoiler alert: hugs are amazing)
I just find this so sad that a father hugging his own son is seemed as inappropriate. We certainly have a loooong way to go in ending the stupid toxic maculinity.
FOXXXXXYYYYYYY! HOW YA DOOOINNNNN? (sorry, i know it's weird but no regrets.)
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I am disgusted by the guy saying no man should feel comfortable having this sort of physical contact with another grown man, cause it's unmanly. Sir, it's a father and son, how is it unmanly to have a bond with your children/parents. It's thinking like that that creates emotionally effed up toxic men. Also: fellas, is it gay to hug your son?
I am a girl. But I know a veteran of war who still hugs his kids, he and his adult sons will bunch up ona couch to watch sports, and nobody finds it odd that he puts an arm around one or both. He's got hsi "boys". Nobody found anything "gay" about it.
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I'm a 26 YO guy and i envy them a lot. My parents nearly never hug me, even the last time i remember them hugging me was in an "parental event" back in the junior highschool. If one day i had kids i would absolutely hug them every single day even after they become an adult.
Oh, Ozzie, I'm a 43 y.o. woman with no kids, and i teach university level. you have NO IDEA how common your story is, and it breaks my heart. because of COVID, i haven't met my current batch of Chickens in person, but you can bet that if you were one of mine, I'd be hugging you. Everyone needs hugs from the older parental figures. and if they can't get that from their parents, there are lots of us out here happy to sub in as hug-giving humans! ❤
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Wait, you people are telling me that you dont hug your dads/your dad doesnt hug you? Hell, I'm so sorry for you!! You should see my Dad when I come home for the weekend. Take your toxic masculinity and stuff it up your ass 'cause thats where s**t is supposed to be!
Mary toxic masculinity means men should hold back
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I have 12 brothers. Every single one of them hug and kiss each other, they hug and kiss me, I hug kiss them., my sisters-in-laws and my nieces and nephews. We all hug and kiss my parents each time we see them. I am the youngest at 46 years old and as long as we are alive, we will show each other physical affection.
Physical affection is important to any relationship unless the other person on the receiving end hates it. So after this pandemic is controlled and vaccinated, I hope you get all the hugs and kisses in, that more people get vaccinated for other stuff, maintain adequate personal hygiene, and just be more like your family.
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Some people tick me off. Let fathers hug their sons. There is LITERALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I hug my dad regularly, and it's not weird.
I agree. If my father lived, I would run to hug him ... tell him "Dad, go back to being young and I to being a child, don't ever get away from me!
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Imagine being the kind of degenerate that would have a problem with this. It seems like they need a hug, or a shot from a fly salt gun. That’s how I want to deal with pests. I love it, I love it, I love it. 🥰 We really take physical contact from loved ones for granted. Why would anyone have a problem with an amazing and touching display of male bonding?
Our society has got to stop seeing people showing emotion or love for one another as feminine or inappropriate. There's nothing wrong with a father hugging his son, no matter what age they are. Toxic masculinity is why we have so many problems in our society.
there is nothing wrong with family hugging family, boy, girl or other. It's natural, why stop it? my dad and grandpa hugged whenever they saw each other. it is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with it.
This is not only fathers. Kids also feel this weird pressure not be inimate. My son who I see maybe once a month gives me a brief hug. I remember snuggling with both my parents and falling asleep watching Columbo as a teenager. And it wasn´t weird.
That might be just because you don’t get to see your child very frequently. Kids can be like that where absence doesn’t make their hearts grow fonder. The lack of presence is probably why they don’t seek physical affection with you. Not saying it’s your fault. I’m sure there’d a valid reason why you can’t see your son, like work or divorce or something. I’m just saying since they unfortunately don’t get much time with you, it might be why he doesn’t like to snuggle.
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My son and I settled this when he was 12, shortly after my father passed. I said "Never be embarrassed to hug someone you love, because you never know when you've going to do it for the very last time." Now he's 25 and towers over me like Rollo the Viking, and he hugs me every single time we meet or part no matter who is watching.
Hug your father too much it’s inappropriate. Father is absent it’s inappropriate. Wtf do you want internet
i never had that kind of 'display of affection' with my dad if i can say it like that. but he was always there, always played with my brother and i always come to watch us played hockey. even in his suicide note about 20 years ago where he wrote that he always loved me, i always figure that he didn't need to told it. only by his act i know he was. i think what's hurting me the most about this is he never had to chance to saw his 3 grandkids... oh god he would have loved to saw them play soccer
I think, those that find these pics offensive, are the ones who had their minds poisoned by a so-called "masculine" man...a "man's man" and it is so sad. Fathers should feel free to love their sons as much as they love their daughters and not have it seen as wrong or weird or whatever bad thing they can come up with.
At the end of the day, anyone who is made uncomfortable by people not in a romantic relationship cuddling because they love each other (be that through friendship or family bonds) has a problem. As a 32 year old man, I wish my dad were still alive to hug and cuddle.
I think that the folks who think parent-child bonding is unnatural most likely grew up in toxic (or co-dependent or otherwise messed-up)surroundings. I wasn't that close to my father that I would have snuggled up with him but then I also didn't do that with my mother... We always hugged each other, though in affectionate greeting. I'm sure that if we'd been more overt in expressing our emotions and desire for togetherness, we could have been more of a 'cuddling family'... nothing wrong at all with that.
I grew up with (one side of the family) hugging, etc., and it was just normal to be affectionate. We were family, we knew it was normal (for us), and it was just a fact of life. Hugs, cuddles, cheek-kisses... Whatevs. So this horror at a dad and son loving each other in a healthy way? Really freaks me out.
Correct me if I am wrong but this aversion to father-son affection is only prevalent in the USA. All over the world people don't even think someone would find this inappropriate.
I'm a 48YO female. Hugged my father once when I was maybe 10 or 12 when he was leaving for a business trip. Mom made us do it. Hella awkward. First and last hug. (BTW, He's still alive) I've seen affectionafe fathers and think it's amazing. People who criticize it need a hug more than anyone.
This is ridiculous. 😡 Everyone deserves hugs and affection.
Exactly, being comfortable with your emotions is strength, not weakness. Men have emotions too, it's not unmanly just because they're not pretending they don't have emotions. To be afraid of what others think about how you express who you are... That is unmanly.
What I find most bizarre is that they say it's OK for father and daughter, or mother and daughter/son, but dad's aren't allowed to show affection. If they found a guy sitting like this with his mother to be weird too, it would at least make them consistent. Anyhow, yes, so many people just don't understand what toxic masculinity actually means. Just like to add, I'd find a woman slapping my ass to be weird - and don't men do that in sports games all the time?
I think it is great . Because the last time my(alc addict) dad called was for my sis bday in Dec last year I'm 12 now i wish i had a dad it's such a burden in india i have to lie every time that my dad works in Brazil when he is actually dating and drinking in SEA(south East Asian) countries
I have a few gay friends and I'm happy to go out to clubs with them. I'm not gay but I will happily get up and dance with them or hug them no matter where I am. I've lost some friends over it but if that their attitude I dont want them as friends. To me these father son pics are the same thing, and if showing your love for friends and family is wrong you better jail me now
*high five* Good for you! Hugs don't have a gender, they're for everyone!
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Remind me of the post that was released on International Men's Day. Father-Son or any man to man relationships ruined bcuz of this kind of people
Strangely, I don't see Leo H ranting and whining here yet, but I guess it's acceptable that he's afk some of his time.
this is so sad,. I love my dad he is 76 and I always give him a hug when I see him or when I leave. Because of COVID I have not seen him since March. I cant wait to give him a hug. Zoom just dont cut it. If you dont show your dad/son you love them with a hug you have plenty of time to regret it after they are gone. When my dad passes I wont him to know I love him.
bruh why we gotta judge? what, you can't cuddle with the homies anymore? is it GAY now to kiss the homies goodnight? *scoff* PSHAWWW
my parents hated me, but I see nothing but beautiful family pictures here. no matter the age. i wish i would have had that.
100 years from now I hope that people grow TF up and get over themselves.
get over it , I kiss my mom 4 times in a day I'm 46 still love her heaps
I think it’s so adorable 🥰 I would be so happy to see my son like this with his Daddy 16 years from now!
Those pictures are beautiful! Shame on those who don't feel the same!
Its complicated having a penis....Its even worse when your gay and don't even toss out the idea of adopting a son...that is just a big no no...
It's not the men touching each other who have the problem. In this any sin is strictly in the eye--and the mind--of the beholder. I have noticed that most people who get pissed off at other people's touch seem to be voyeurs. That is, they take personal pleasure in judging and disapproving. But they still watch.
Well just go look at Candace Owen’s tweet about the “feminization of men is making the us communists” she is absolutely disgusting and promoting that only manly men have strength.
He looks like he just has been grounded XD Lovely photo thou
"I won't show my son I care for him so I'm waiting something goes really wrong and I can violently defend him and he'll see my love finally and suddenly we'll have a bond going back years." Bit risky but can't see why that wouldn't work out, eh.
Ah, the classic storyline of ... how things go to hell in a family.
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These are the kind of men who only allow themselves to receive physical and mental affection from their girlfriends or wives, so blow a complete casket when these women leave them.
look at the body language in each photo. dad lovin', son lovin'...then dad is relaxed and son looks stressed, theres the story. the kid is stressed. whoever took the pic must have thought the moment was something to capture, because all the photos display lovin' as its happening.
Saving the world? It isn't saved, we have a long way to go and a lot of things to fix. This article is a testament to that. If you are talking about wars, however, both men AND women contributed to the success. Will you please stop trolling?
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those opinions are outdated and just wrong. Its reinforcing the toxic-masculine view of the world and it needs to stop. and these people should just keep it to themselves instead of hating on a perfectly normal post.
Load More Replies... I just find this so sad that a father hugging his own son is seemed as inappropriate. We certainly have a loooong way to go in ending the stupid toxic maculinity.
FOXXXXXYYYYYYY! HOW YA DOOOINNNNN? (sorry, i know it's weird but no regrets.)
Load More Replies... I am disgusted by the guy saying no man should feel comfortable having this sort of physical contact with another grown man, cause it's unmanly. Sir, it's a father and son, how is it unmanly to have a bond with your children/parents. It's thinking like that that creates emotionally effed up toxic men. Also: fellas, is it gay to hug your son?
I am a girl. But I know a veteran of war who still hugs his kids, he and his adult sons will bunch up ona couch to watch sports, and nobody finds it odd that he puts an arm around one or both. He's got hsi "boys". Nobody found anything "gay" about it.
Load More Replies... I'm a 26 YO guy and i envy them a lot. My parents nearly never hug me, even the last time i remember them hugging me was in an "parental event" back in the junior highschool. If one day i had kids i would absolutely hug them every single day even after they become an adult.
Oh, Ozzie, I'm a 43 y.o. woman with no kids, and i teach university level. you have NO IDEA how common your story is, and it breaks my heart. because of COVID, i haven't met my current batch of Chickens in person, but you can bet that if you were one of mine, I'd be hugging you. Everyone needs hugs from the older parental figures. and if they can't get that from their parents, there are lots of us out here happy to sub in as hug-giving humans! ❤
Load More Replies... Wait, you people are telling me that you dont hug your dads/your dad doesnt hug you? Hell, I'm so sorry for you!! You should see my Dad when I come home for the weekend. Take your toxic masculinity and stuff it up your ass 'cause thats where s**t is supposed to be!
Mary toxic masculinity means men should hold back
Load More Replies... I have 12 brothers. Every single one of them hug and kiss each other, they hug and kiss me, I hug kiss them., my sisters-in-laws and my nieces and nephews. We all hug and kiss my parents each time we see them. I am the youngest at 46 years old and as long as we are alive, we will show each other physical affection.
Physical affection is important to any relationship unless the other person on the receiving end hates it. So after this pandemic is controlled and vaccinated, I hope you get all the hugs and kisses in, that more people get vaccinated for other stuff, maintain adequate personal hygiene, and just be more like your family.
Load More Replies... Some people tick me off. Let fathers hug their sons. There is LITERALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I hug my dad regularly, and it's not weird.
I agree. If my father lived, I would run to hug him ... tell him "Dad, go back to being young and I to being a child, don't ever get away from me!
Load More Replies... Imagine being the kind of degenerate that would have a problem with this. It seems like they need a hug, or a shot from a fly salt gun. That’s how I want to deal with pests. I love it, I love it, I love it. 🥰 We really take physical contact from loved ones for granted. Why would anyone have a problem with an amazing and touching display of male bonding?
Our society has got to stop seeing people showing emotion or love for one another as feminine or inappropriate. There's nothing wrong with a father hugging his son, no matter what age they are. Toxic masculinity is why we have so many problems in our society.
there is nothing wrong with family hugging family, boy, girl or other. It's natural, why stop it? my dad and grandpa hugged whenever they saw each other. it is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with it.
This is not only fathers. Kids also feel this weird pressure not be inimate. My son who I see maybe once a month gives me a brief hug. I remember snuggling with both my parents and falling asleep watching Columbo as a teenager. And it wasn´t weird.
That might be just because you don’t get to see your child very frequently. Kids can be like that where absence doesn’t make their hearts grow fonder. The lack of presence is probably why they don’t seek physical affection with you. Not saying it’s your fault. I’m sure there’d a valid reason why you can’t see your son, like work or divorce or something. I’m just saying since they unfortunately don’t get much time with you, it might be why he doesn’t like to snuggle.
Load More Replies... My son and I settled this when he was 12, shortly after my father passed. I said "Never be embarrassed to hug someone you love, because you never know when you've going to do it for the very last time." Now he's 25 and towers over me like Rollo the Viking, and he hugs me every single time we meet or part no matter who is watching.
Hug your father too much it’s inappropriate. Father is absent it’s inappropriate. Wtf do you want internet
i never had that kind of 'display of affection' with my dad if i can say it like that. but he was always there, always played with my brother and i always come to watch us played hockey. even in his suicide note about 20 years ago where he wrote that he always loved me, i always figure that he didn't need to told it. only by his act i know he was. i think what's hurting me the most about this is he never had to chance to saw his 3 grandkids... oh god he would have loved to saw them play soccer
I think, those that find these pics offensive, are the ones who had their minds poisoned by a so-called "masculine" man...a "man's man" and it is so sad. Fathers should feel free to love their sons as much as they love their daughters and not have it seen as wrong or weird or whatever bad thing they can come up with.
At the end of the day, anyone who is made uncomfortable by people not in a romantic relationship cuddling because they love each other (be that through friendship or family bonds) has a problem. As a 32 year old man, I wish my dad were still alive to hug and cuddle.
I think that the folks who think parent-child bonding is unnatural most likely grew up in toxic (or co-dependent or otherwise messed-up)surroundings. I wasn't that close to my father that I would have snuggled up with him but then I also didn't do that with my mother... We always hugged each other, though in affectionate greeting. I'm sure that if we'd been more overt in expressing our emotions and desire for togetherness, we could have been more of a 'cuddling family'... nothing wrong at all with that.
I grew up with (one side of the family) hugging, etc., and it was just normal to be affectionate. We were family, we knew it was normal (for us), and it was just a fact of life. Hugs, cuddles, cheek-kisses... Whatevs. So this horror at a dad and son loving each other in a healthy way? Really freaks me out.
Correct me if I am wrong but this aversion to father-son affection is only prevalent in the USA. All over the world people don't even think someone would find this inappropriate.
I'm a 48YO female. Hugged my father once when I was maybe 10 or 12 when he was leaving for a business trip. Mom made us do it. Hella awkward. First and last hug. (BTW, He's still alive) I've seen affectionafe fathers and think it's amazing. People who criticize it need a hug more than anyone.
This is ridiculous. 😡 Everyone deserves hugs and affection.
Exactly, being comfortable with your emotions is strength, not weakness. Men have emotions too, it's not unmanly just because they're not pretending they don't have emotions. To be afraid of what others think about how you express who you are... That is unmanly.
What I find most bizarre is that they say it's OK for father and daughter, or mother and daughter/son, but dad's aren't allowed to show affection. If they found a guy sitting like this with his mother to be weird too, it would at least make them consistent. Anyhow, yes, so many people just don't understand what toxic masculinity actually means. Just like to add, I'd find a woman slapping my ass to be weird - and don't men do that in sports games all the time?
I think it is great . Because the last time my(alc addict) dad called was for my sis bday in Dec last year I'm 12 now i wish i had a dad it's such a burden in india i have to lie every time that my dad works in Brazil when he is actually dating and drinking in SEA(south East Asian) countries
I have a few gay friends and I'm happy to go out to clubs with them. I'm not gay but I will happily get up and dance with them or hug them no matter where I am. I've lost some friends over it but if that their attitude I dont want them as friends. To me these father son pics are the same thing, and if showing your love for friends and family is wrong you better jail me now
*high five* Good for you! Hugs don't have a gender, they're for everyone!
Load More Replies... Remind me of the post that was released on International Men's Day. Father-Son or any man to man relationships ruined bcuz of this kind of people
Strangely, I don't see Leo H ranting and whining here yet, but I guess it's acceptable that he's afk some of his time.
this is so sad,. I love my dad he is 76 and I always give him a hug when I see him or when I leave. Because of COVID I have not seen him since March. I cant wait to give him a hug. Zoom just dont cut it. If you dont show your dad/son you love them with a hug you have plenty of time to regret it after they are gone. When my dad passes I wont him to know I love him.
bruh why we gotta judge? what, you can't cuddle with the homies anymore? is it GAY now to kiss the homies goodnight? *scoff* PSHAWWW
my parents hated me, but I see nothing but beautiful family pictures here. no matter the age. i wish i would have had that.
100 years from now I hope that people grow TF up and get over themselves.
get over it , I kiss my mom 4 times in a day I'm 46 still love her heaps
I think it’s so adorable 🥰 I would be so happy to see my son like this with his Daddy 16 years from now!
Those pictures are beautiful! Shame on those who don't feel the same!
Its complicated having a penis....Its even worse when your gay and don't even toss out the idea of adopting a son...that is just a big no no...
It's not the men touching each other who have the problem. In this any sin is strictly in the eye--and the mind--of the beholder. I have noticed that most people who get pissed off at other people's touch seem to be voyeurs. That is, they take personal pleasure in judging and disapproving. But they still watch.
Well just go look at Candace Owen’s tweet about the “feminization of men is making the us communists” she is absolutely disgusting and promoting that only manly men have strength.
He looks like he just has been grounded XD Lovely photo thou
"I won't show my son I care for him so I'm waiting something goes really wrong and I can violently defend him and he'll see my love finally and suddenly we'll have a bond going back years." Bit risky but can't see why that wouldn't work out, eh.
Ah, the classic storyline of ... how things go to hell in a family.
Load More Replies... These are the kind of men who only allow themselves to receive physical and mental affection from their girlfriends or wives, so blow a complete casket when these women leave them.
look at the body language in each photo. dad lovin', son lovin'...then dad is relaxed and son looks stressed, theres the story. the kid is stressed. whoever took the pic must have thought the moment was something to capture, because all the photos display lovin' as its happening.
Saving the world? It isn't saved, we have a long way to go and a lot of things to fix. This article is a testament to that. If you are talking about wars, however, both men AND women contributed to the success. Will you please stop trolling?
Load More Replies... those opinions are outdated and just wrong. Its reinforcing the toxic-masculine view of the world and it needs to stop. and these people should just keep it to themselves instead of hating on a perfectly normal post.
Load More Replies...
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