Toxic masculinity refers to a collection of extreme beliefs that perpetuate harmful and outdated ideals of what it means to be a 'real man.' It is a root cause to many knife crime incidents. Many men will not want to admit to feeling unsafe and strive to fit into the stereotype of a 'strong man' that does not protecting, whilst personal safety is branded as a 'female issue.' There are many resources available to women, such as personal safety apps, phone lines for walking home safely and the Ask Angela scheme, yet there is a severe lack of resources that are targeted towards men. 70% of knife crime victims in the UK are in fact male, with one of the most common scenarios for these murders occurring on the streets at the hands of a complete stranger. 

Would you feel weak for taking an interest in your own personal safety? Would you make someone else feel weak for taking an interest in their own personal safety? It's time to say NO to these toxic ideals. Personal safety is an issue concerning all human beings, not just women and girls. Never let anyone make you feel weak, and never make anyone else feel week for utilising safety resources and guidance. Protecting your life, and your loved ones from a lifetime of grief is a huge strength. 

Toxic masculinity can also force men into wanting to prove their masculine pride and strength, which may lead them into unnecessary conflicts. On a night out in this day and age, many petty arguments such as a shoulder barge in a club or a spilt drink can end in murder. Many men want to 'prove themselves' to friends by not tolerating disrespect, yet you do not know what someone is carrying in their pocket. Engaging in conflict may seem harmless, but fights in this generation do not stop at fists anymore. Knife carrying is becoming a more and more common occurrence, and no argument with a complete stranger will ever be deep-rooted enough to warrant the end of a life. 

You can avoid conflict by:
1. Avoiding instigating or immediately walk away from any conflicts.
2. Stick to your limits when drinking alcohol if you know it to heighten your aggression.
3. Avoid friendships with anyone whose prerogative is to sought out conflict on a night out. Friends who are involved in conflict on numerous occasions are not only putting themselves in danger, but also those around them. You could be severely injured or even killed if you are regularly being involved in physical altercations, or could become guilty of Joint enterprise,  which is a law doctrine that states an individual can be 'jointly' convicted of a crime. This means you could be reprimanded to the same degree as the perpetrator if you had knowledge a crime would take place and were present at the scene. 
4. Find safer ways of diffusing conflicts, such as phoning emergency services or alerting security. Many people have lost their lives by being inadvertently stabbed when attempting to break up fights.