I’m extremely disappointed by the…
I’m extremely disappointed by the conduct associated with this company.
A comment was made from the company’s account (or by someone representing the company) on an Instagram video of a man who apparently did not fit the commenter’s narrow idea of what a “masculine” man should look or present like. The comment sarcastically asked whether he had “come across the peer reviewed research on testosterone yet” and whether he would be “taking any.”
There is nothing wrong with a man not conforming to someone else’s stereotypical definition of masculinity. What is disturbing is the implication that if a man doesn’t look or behave “masculine” enough according to someone else’s standards, there must be something biologically wrong with him that needs to be fixed with testosterone.
That is a particularly toxic view of masculinity: reducing being a man to hormones, physical appearance and conformity to a narrow stereotype, while ridiculing anyone who falls outside of it. It is also a deeply personal and unnecessary comment about someone’s body and appearance.
What makes this even more concerning is that this was said publicly in connection with a company. Businesses have a responsibility to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully, including on social media. Hiding an insult behind sarcasm and pseudo-scientific language does not make it appropriate.
I would encourage anyone considering this company to look at the comment for themselves and decide whether this reflects the standards and values they expect from a business. At the very least, I would expect the company to acknowledge the comment, take responsibility for it, and explain why it was considered acceptable.






