What are we doing here, folks? There might be some words of wisdom, to be fair. Honestly, things could be way worse—especially when the alphabet community starts sharing crazy social takes. But Elliott Page, formerly known as Ellen Page, decided to offer some thoughts on healthy masculinity. There’s one big problem.
Page is a biological female, having come out as lesbian in 2014 and finally saying she was a ‘trans man.’ Here’s what Page said on the subject (via Fox News):
"Healthy masculinity, to me, is or even just something I’ve felt as, like, transitioning, is like leaning away from whenever there is some sort of impulse or expectation you’ve put on yourself to, like, shut down," Page said. "Or conform in a way that usually feels like ‘this,’ like I am closing off."
Page continued, "I remember kind of being like, ‘Oh, Elliot, maybe you should talk with your hands a little less, or, you know, maybe in pictures you’re...' because ever since transitioning now, I’m like smiling in those photos. Whereas, I used to be so like, I could barely look at a photo of myself. I was always like, you know, and now (smiling)."
Page described seeing a contrast in taking photos with male fans who refused to smile in pictures.
"And I’m, like, having that moment where I’m, like, ‘Oh, should I also not? Should I also be closed off? It’s just like, what the f---, Elliot?' What are you talking about? Like, oh, honey, you’re part of the problem," Page said.
As a general note, Page added that healthy masculinity would also include practical healthy habits like drinking water and greater efforts by men to "love themselves."
"And also just, you know, doing what you can to be intentionally and mindfully not letting yourself get swayed or twisted by the rules that I feel like end up leading to so many of the problems that we see that do get inflicted by toxic masculinity, violence and abuse, just general cruelty. I think... healthy masculinity could just mean a really good cry," Page said.
And there it is—the toxic masculinity stuff. I mean, I can get behind drinking more water, I guess, but again, Page was born female, so what are we even talking about here? Frankly, across the board, discussions about this topic, whether male or female, quickly go off the rails.
Is it something to harp on and dwell over? No. Let Page and others who dabble in this speak and then move on. But oh boy, they’re still on this one.
