The wife-beating, homophobic, bigoted masculinity is the toxic masculinity. The people that have a problem with just simple, non-toxic, masculinity, are jumping the gun, they don't really know what they're talking about, or it's the people who are toxic painting people who are rightfully calling them out as sensitive snowflakes by claiming they're whining about something they're not. It happens a whole lot more then you might think and it's obnoxious. I don't know how many times I've seen "x minority group is up in arms about (something innocent to strange out of context)" to then go to the comments and see dozens of posts saying "I'm x minority group and literally no one cares. what is this?"
I think it's the muddying of the waters, the target audience, and EA's seeming inability to do any actual research beyond "this is what the people on twitter are saying", that has really messed up our chance of getting simple, normal, everyday clothes that should have been delivered in the base games and in many packs that have followed. We shouldn't have to discuss amongst ourselves about whether we should get basic shirts and flannels, we should have them already. And it's sad! An actual construction career shouldn't be too hard to implement, and if they wanted to go even further it'd probably make an epic active career. Normal shirts must be easier to make. We haven't gotten new beards in ages, as far as I'm aware. Body hair I probably wouldn't end up using (and it should be available for women too. people have hair, EA, we are animals.) but I'm good with it coming, happy even, for everyone on here that's been asking for it.
What other jobs do we want? Electrician? That'd also be a fun, dangerous probably, active career to play. We could get new electronics, visit our other sims to repair their things, maybe when playing another household the repairman will be our sim. Continuity. Race car driver? Fireman? These careers are genuinely exciting! That's three new active careers that, in my mind, are pretty typically masculine that would bring thrilling and interesting gameplay to the game. But will we get it?
As far as I can tell, EA seems to think masculinity=toxic masculinity and it does not. I do not and I will not fault the people calling out actual toxic masculinity for this, but rather the people muddying the waters (especially on purpose) and EA for not caring enough to do simple research. It's an easy for them, and frustrating for us, decision to shut the book, move on, and make another fashion kit. And I have liked the fashion kits, don't get me wrong, but for a moment can we consider doing something normal? And that's coming from someone who wants ghost babies, faeries, werewolves and gosh darn Bigfoot in my game the moment I can have them. I could get into toxic femininity but that's it's own can of worms and this is the wrong worm hole for it. ugh.
Sorry for the long rant and if this seems like I'm disagreeing with you on any of this. As far as I can tell we actually agree, I just know how this thread can go. It hurts when you see post after post of people berating those who want to change society for the better, because they don't really understand what the problem is. I just want to reiterate that masculinity is not toxic, and end this post with that. <3
