Few words will make your phone explode like "toxic masculinity". According to some people's insecurity, that's the war cry of women out to castrate men and I gotta admit that liberal side of this debate is good at pointing examples of what NOT to do in terms of gender roles...not so much at giving good examples.

Actually, I found a good example of positive masculinity in an unlikely place: the Rocky franchise!

Granted, don't look for any movie for a perfect example. Some people would say that boxing is in itself toxic masculinity but in Rocky's defense, he trains for himself, not to get a girl. He shows sadness (everyone remembers when Mickey dies in Rocky III?) and vulnerability (like on the beach in that same movie), he trains hard but doesn't win at first, he doesn't disrespect his adversaries either. In fact, overconfidence is often the kiss of death for a boxer in the Rocky universe.

(On top of that, I've seen Creed II and I was super impressed by the much needed development the character of Ivan Drago and his son finally got after being a punchline for the past thirty years...)

No, I'm not saying everyone should or can get Rocky's physique, but that attitude is something that could work for all of us, no matter what our passion is.