March Essay Competition

March 9 — March 22, 2026,

Prompt

The average man, regardless of creed, family background, religion, personal convictions, or social, economic, or marital status, will always feel threatened or intimidated by a successful, strong, independent woman.

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THE CONCEALED TURBULENCE OF AN INSECURED MAN AGAINST SUCCESSFUL AND INDEPENDENT WOMAN

By Catherine Omoniwa

March 15, 2026 · 981 words · 5 min read

The reality of an unresolved bottled agitation of emotional complexity from the masculine towards the feminine counterpart is a critical issue that dates back to historical narratives and experiences. An average man has a belief system that runs through his background, which also influences him. Insecure men, when viewed through a nuanced lens, are not simply defined by “weakness” or “aggression,” but rather by a complex, often involuntary, struggle with self-worth that frequently stems from deep-rooted psychological, social, or historical factors. While popular narrative typically focuses on the toxic externalization of this insecurity, historical and societal foundations entail provider ideals. For centuries, a man's worth was heavily tied to his ability to financially support his family. When economic instability or shifting gender roles occur, this can lead to profound feelings of inadequacy. No man is being nurtured in a vacuum; there is simply a background that molds and sharpens his belief. This belief system antagonizes gender equity. Thus, a binary opposition complexity from such backgrounds becomes a stronghold on the man.A masculinity complex is a great challenge in any social milieu, and it wages an invisible war against the concept of gender equity.It is characterized by a “mask of invulnerability” known as the “Man of Steel Syndrome,” where emotional expression is repressed to maintain a façade of strength. A nuanced lens looks into this critical and analytical concept from the inside, which is beyond the peripheral (surface). Following this, the main argument will filter the complexity of these unhealthy dynamics. Focusing on perspectives that will pinpoint the internal excesses.  This example further supports the lens of the nuanced perspective as it sees the different shades of this discourse. In essence, the liberal and cultural strands of feminist theory shall prove to one that this binary opposition can be corrected. It argues that “society has a false belief that women are by nature less intellectually and physically capable than men” (Tong, 2009, p. 2). This perspective seeks to level the playing field that would allow women to seek the same opportunities as men, especially the opportunity to excel in various fields. In this regard, cultural radical feminism expressly argues that the root cause of the problem is not femininity but the low value that patriarchy assigns to feminine qualities. Hence, stereotypes have been the concealed perspective that results into unhealthy dynamics. It is the consumed norms and beliefs that determine his disposition either to be against or to be a support system for his  partner, who is successful, strong, and independent.  Trauma is another pivotal concept to consider in this discourse, as it is one of the effects of insecurity and intimidation. Insecurity is not a monolith; it manifests differently, sometimes in contradictory ways. Insecurity can be a manifestation of untreated trauma or previous relational failures, leading to a fear of vulnerability. To illustrate, the development of a child can be influenced by an erroneous misconceptions. Insecure men have roots in upbringings where love was conditional on achievement or behavior, creating a “fragile sense of self-worth” and an anxious-avoidant attachment style. These experiences can make a man battle with resentment. This makes him inadequate and threatened when he is in a relationship with an successful woman. He sees her as a threat to his manhood. Hence, he automatically becomes competitive that results to jealousy which is accumulated in his subconscious mind metamorphosing into the conscious. He turns out to be an antagonist who barricades the progress of his partner; whose mindset has been sensitize for greatness. It then triggers the prevailing challenge of binary opposition. Specifically, there will also be numbness to emotional intelligence. This is the misery of a man whose emotions have been bottled. He becomes a man with low self esteem,. highly sensitive and sometimes plays the villain role in a supposedly peaceful and romantic relationship.  Emotional shutdown is not resilience! For instance, cultural conditioning trains boys to “man up.” It sheds light on how men push emotions away until the nervous system slips into detachment. Through relatable examples from clinical experience, there is a story of men who lose touch with their emotional worlds without even noticing it. For this reason, a nuanced perspective on this critical discourse sees the reason there has to be a shift from the focus of external reaction to that of the internal reaction (inward anxieties).  In addition, cruelty is another defense mechanism that amplifies the concealed emotional turbulence of insecure man. Common signs of this include needing constant validation, overcompensating through bragging about money/status, high jealousy, and avoiding accountability. He views minor disagreements as attacks and refuses to admit fault, as he perceives vulnerability as weakness.  Presently, One will presume that the sophistication that civilization and education should have prevented these occurrences. But it is just too pathetic that it keeps prevailing. This was known to be a prevailing issue in the Stone Age, but it is even more triggered in this civilization age. The only panacea to this prevailing challenge is the adaptation of gender equity. It gives room for social construction through reorientation and reformation of erroneous perspectives about gender in any milieu. From this end, a nuanced perspective seeks to level the playing field that would allow women to seek the same opportunities as men, especially the opportunity to excel in various fields. For this reason, there will be a shift of focus on the external factors , such as toxic reaction to the internal torment that is done involuntarily. Many supposed healthy relationships have been dissolved as a result of this concealed emotional turbulence. Therefore, gender equity should be a great tool that needs to be harnessed as the solution to this prevailing issue in every social milieu.  ReferenceTong, R. (2009). Feminist thought: A more comprehensive introduction. Philadelphia, PA: Westview Press.Whelehan, I. (2000). Feminism, postmodernism, and theoretical developments. In J. Glazer-Raymo, B. K. Townsend, & B. Ropers-Huilman (eds.) Women in higher education: A feminist perspective (2nd ed; pp. 72–84). Boston, MA: Pearson.