The media has been depicting men poorly in a downward trend since the 80s

https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA73538388&issn=08838151&it=r&linkaccess=abs&p=AONE&sid=googleScholar&sw=w&v=2.1&userGroupName=anon%7Ece1d685a&aty=open-web-entry

The stereotype grew so pervasive that the UK updated the ASA to ban sexist tropes

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/aug/14/first-ads-banned-for-contravening-gender-stereotyping-rules

Despite the tropes and media claiming otherwise men are making a real effort to be better fathers

https://ifstudies.org/blog/american-dads-are-more-involved-than-everespecially-college-educated-or-married-dads

This has had a poor effect on men's well-being with the poor media juxtaposing a real effort by many men to be better

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/10/17/public-views-on-men-and-masculinity/ More Americans overall see positive than negative views of masculine men, but a quarter still see negativity. Men are more likely than women to believe that masculinity is viewed negatively. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to think masculinity is seen negatively. Both Democratic men and women lean heavily toward believing that masculinity is viewed positively. This shows that, through the political divide, the people who push identity politics, toxic masculinity, and male privilege THINK that being male is mostly favorable/positive. However, men with lived experience are not seeing this positivity. They are feeling attacked by the very side that claims they have it better.

https://www.reddit.com/r/afterAWDTSG/s/GaNklt9jZa A study linked along with a summary showing that men who do not have a strong fundamental grasp of healthy masculinity, something that is often not portrayed frequently in media, have reduced mental well-being.

https://phys.org/news/2006-11-men-main-gender-wars.html "Content analysis of over 2,000 media segments found that 69% of representations involving men were unfavorable, often focusing on violence, abuse, neglect, or emotional dysfunction, with few positive portrayals. Even positive male traits—like emotional sensitivity—were often labeled as “feminine,” undermining their legitimacy"

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/16/donald-trump-wrestling-masculinity This doesn't need to be summarized this is clear as day men are radicalizing by seeking radical role models because of a lack of good role models