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The neologism “toxic” masculinity has sparked debate in recent years over the negative masculine behaviours associated with hegemonic ideals. The rise of Donald Trump, the #MeToo movement and shaving company Gillette’s support of it, as well as the argued motives behind Brexit have all contributed to and intensified discussions around hegemonic masculinity, shown clearly by the wealth of user comments posted in reaction to online articles discussing the topic. Using a critical discourse analysis, this article identifies, critically examines and re-evaluates the complex and often paradoxical defence strategies used by Daily Mail comment forum users in reaction to calls for a cultural shift away from “toxic” masculinity. Three overarching, interrelated themes are presented: (1) The male victimhood/entitlement paradox—legitimising hegemonic, “toxic” masculine traits as justified reaction to “toxic” feminists, liberals and lefties,’ (2) Gender essentialism as the neutral position—nostalgic accentuation of innate differences, (3) Distancing: attributing “toxic” masculinity to a breakdown in the family unit. It is argued that deeply ingrained essentialist views of gender only perpetuate the patriarchal subordination and mistreatment of women and marginalised men. This paper, building on a growing body of research, calls for a radical shift towards a more progressive construction of masculinity.

“Oh for the days when men were men”: constructing, defending and justifying masculinity in newspaper comment forums – a critique