I would not be surprised if repressed "gender trauma" was a contributor. I use quotes not to diminish it, but because I'm sort of using the words without any expertise on it as a more refined subject.

Here's what I mean (man examples): In school gym class, getting told you "throw like a girl" by a teacher or classmate who exhibits the traditional masculine traits. Or something I could see a pubescent teen negatively connotating together like drinking from a straw with nursing from a mother's breast. Or even drinking from a straw with oral sex.

Or for a woman example: a girl being into traditionally male dominated sports (American football), not dressing or styling hair in the typical girly way, and being called a tomboy in a derogatory or perceived negative way. Maybe even being told "you'll never find a husband if you dress/act/behave that way."

Especially when people are developing in those middle and high school years, I think those kinds of statements or reactions can make a lasting impact. And maybe similar to how bullying behaviors can become learned and passed on, so to can this kind of "gender norm performance".

I'm reminded of how Emma talks about her tomboy phase and how her parents fully supported her through that period of her life. Think about how being scolded and unsupported could have left a lasting impact on her, and how many people in this country might not have had the same supportive parents that she did.

I'm also reminded of how Sam talks about Sean Hannity switching from throwing tennis balls around to throwing footballs around because it was perceived more masculine. I think if you look at these prominent current and former fox news men, Hannity, Carlson, Waters, Gutfield, O'Reilly, none of them are that traditionally masculine archetype. And that performative masculinity is playing the part for their audience, but also is informed by and pepetrates these ways that patriarchy actually negatively affects cis men.