Toxic Masculinity: The Root of a Fragile Male Ego
Kaylah Davis Ms. Ayewoh Survery of African American Literature 10/15/2025
One ongoing social trend in "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston is toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is described as "a set of attitudes and ways of behaving stereotypically with or expected of men, regarded as having a negative impact on men and on society as a whole."
Three examples of toxic masculinity that are present in "Sweat" are Syke's physical and emotional abuse of Delia, Syke's infidelity and public humiliation of Delia, and Syke's economic explotation and refusal to contribute.
Thesis Point #1: Physical and Emotional Abuse
The first example of toxic masculinity that Hurston brings to light is physical and emotional abuse. In the story, Sykes, who is the husband of Delia, regularly beats her. He also regularly insults and humiliates her, despite her being his wife. Even early on in the story, Sykes terrorizes Delia deliberately by throwing a bullwhip on her shoulders, knowing that Delia has a big fear of snakes (ophidiophobia). "A great rattlesnake whipped past her feet and she screamed... Then she saw that it was the bull whip Sykes had tricked her with."
An analysis of this quote proves that Sykes's cruelty towards his wife demonstrates toxic masculinity through tactics of dominance, intimidation, and violence used to assert over a woman. Sykes has the belief and mindset that control equals manhood, reflecting patriarchal values that glorify male agression.
Physical and Emotional Abuse/Domination
"Two million women and one million men experience rape, stalking, or physical assault by a current or former romantic partner each year in the U.S. Not only do women report twice the incidents, but intimate partner violence (IPV) that women experience is typically more severe. Explanations for IPV gender asymmetry include male dominance attitudes, hostile sexism, and men's control-seeking. There are gaps in our knowledge of how attitudes and control-seeking co-relate to influence IPV. This study demonstrates a mediation analysis to investigate these relationships. Data were from a cross-sectional online survey of male undergraduate students from a public Southeastern university. The survey measured attitudes of male dominance and hostile sexism, desire for control, and IPV perpetration."
"Centrality of Control-Seeking in Men's Intimate Partner Violence Pepretation"
This study from October 14, 2014 published by PubMed is a survey of male undergraduates in the Southeastern part of the United States. The study examines how male dominance attitudes and hostile sexism are linked with IPV (intimate partner violence). The study of this survey finds that men who strongly believe in having male dominance and often exhibit high hostility towards women are the ones who are more likely to commit physical abuse.
This specific study parallel's "Sweat" as it shows Sykes's behavior towards Delia (physical intimidation, use of the whip, threats). His behavior is very much about wanting dominance and control. The findings within the study affirms that abusive behavior correlates with male dominance attitudes and a sense of entitlement, which is similar to the behavior that Sykes displays in the story.
Thesis Point #2: Infidelity and Public Humiliation
The second example of toxic masculinity that Hurston brings to light is infidelity and public humilation. In the story, Syles was having an affair with another woman named Bertha. He openly flaunted his affair with her, and he goes as far as to even bring her into town in front of everyone. "He strutted in, laughing loudly, with Bertha, his woman, on his arm." An analysis of this quote proves that Sykes has the need to show off his affair, and that this need of his is driven by his inflated ego and the desire to prove his "manliness" through sexual conquest, or sleeping with multiple women. Instead of treating women with empathy or respect, Sykes treats women as posessions or trophies, which is another sign of toxic masculine pride.
Flaunting Affairs/Public Humiliation
"This research examined how gender and moral values affect young people’s views on extramarital affairs. The study used a survey on 493 college students from five countries about whether affairs could ever be justified. The study also probed how important they felt responsibility and fairness are to see if gender or morals predicted attitudes on affairs. The study found that men were a bit more likely than women to say affairs could sometimes be justified, but the difference was small. More interestingly, men who valued responsibility more were less likely to justify affairs. But men who valued fairness more were more likely to justify affairs. This suggests men may think about responsibility and fairness differently when evaluating affairs. Responsibility may connect more to social norms against affairs for men. But some men may see affairs as personally fair, even if norms suggest it’s wrong. Their own sense of fairness may justify affairs, despite social disapproval. In contrast, women’s views were less affected by their senses of responsibility and fairness. This implies men do complex moral calculations about affairs weighing social norms versus personal preferences. Their interpretations of morals like fairness shape their attitudes."
"Fair but Irresponsible: How Moral Sense Affect Young Male's Attitudes Toward External Affairs"
This study from 2024 published by SageJournals is a study that surveyed university students from multiple countries (Germany, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan) about the attitudes towards extramarital affairs (cheating). The study found that males are somewhat more likely than females to consider that extramarital affairs can be justified, even though the difference is relatively small. The study also showed that perceptions of responsibility and fairness do not strongly affect those attitudes in some groups.
This specific study parallels Sweat by showing that not only does Sykes have an affair but he publicly parades Bertha around, taking pride in humiliating Delia. He uses the affair not just as private betrayal but to show his male dominance. The study underlines that such behavior is not merely private but tied to broader moral and gender norms that allow or rationalize male infidelity under certain conditions.
Thesis Point #3: Economic Exploitation and Contribution Refusal
The third and final example of toxic masculinity that Hurston brings to light is economic exploitation and contribution refusal. In the story, Sykes mocks Delia for her hard labor and spends all of the money that she makes, despite the fact that she works hard washing white people's clothes to support them. "Ah done tole you time and again to keep them white folks' clothes outa dis house."
An analysis of this quote proves that Sykes refuses honest work and demeans Delia's efforts of supporting their household because her efforts threaten his sense of masculine superiority. This quote really reflects toxic masculinity as Sykes equates "real manhood" with dominance rather than partnership or responsibility.
"Economic abuse in an intimate partner relationship typically occurs to women in an abusive relationship and is a practice of male abusers in forcing female partners to be financially dependent on them, making it more difficult for them to leave the relationship. Tactics of economic abuse include ruining the partner’s ability to buy on credit, controlling the amount of money the partner spends, and discouraging or preventing the partner from entering or sustaining employment that will provide her a separate source of income. One study of IPV survivors found that within the last 12 months, 94 percent experienced physical abuse; 95 percent experienced psychological abuse; 94 percent experienced economic control by the abuser; 92 percent experienced behaviors of economic control; 88 percent experienced employment sabotage; and 79 percent experienced economic exploitation. The study concluded that women who experience economic abuse are four times more likely to experience physical abuse."
Economic Abuse/Refusal to Contribute
"Economic Abuse in the Life of Survivors"
This report from July 2021 that was published by the U.S. Office of Justice Programs defines economic abuse as one of the distinct forms of Intimate Partner Violence. The report includes tactics such as controlling a partner's money, work prevention, ruining credit, sabotaging employment, etc. The report finds that a large majority of people who experience IPV also experienced economic abuse from their partners.
This specific study parallels Sweat by showing that even though Delia works long hours doing laundry to support the household, Sykes always tries to limit her autonomy, spend the money she makes, and discourages her or insults her. The real-life studies validate that such economic abuse is common, harmful, and ties to power imbalances like the ones in the story.
Conclusion
Zora Neale Hurston sheds light on the topic of toxic masculinity by having it embodied through one of her main characters. Sykes embodies toxic masculinity through acts of violence, cheating, and economic control. He uses all three of these tactics to assert power and suppress Delia's independence. However, Sykes's acts of toxic masculinity ultimately leads to his downfall, which is Hurston's way of critiquing gender cruelty and how it's destructive.
Work Cited Page
https://biblioklept.org/2013/01/21/sweat-zora-neale-hurston/ ("Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston "1926") https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23400847/ (Centrality of Control-Seeking in Men's Intimate Partner Violence Pepretation") https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440241264190 (Fair but Irresponsible: How Moral Sense Affect Young Male's Attitudes Toward External Affairs) https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/economic-abuse-life-survivors (Economic Abuse in the Life of Survivors)
Toxic Masculinity: The Root of a Fragile Male Ego
Kaylah Davis
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Transcript
Toxic Masculinity: The Root of a Fragile Male Ego
Kaylah Davis Ms. Ayewoh Survery of African American Literature 10/15/2025
One ongoing social trend in "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston is toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is described as "a set of attitudes and ways of behaving stereotypically with or expected of men, regarded as having a negative impact on men and on society as a whole."
Three examples of toxic masculinity that are present in "Sweat" are Syke's physical and emotional abuse of Delia, Syke's infidelity and public humiliation of Delia, and Syke's economic explotation and refusal to contribute.
Thesis Point #1: Physical and Emotional Abuse
The first example of toxic masculinity that Hurston brings to light is physical and emotional abuse. In the story, Sykes, who is the husband of Delia, regularly beats her. He also regularly insults and humiliates her, despite her being his wife. Even early on in the story, Sykes terrorizes Delia deliberately by throwing a bullwhip on her shoulders, knowing that Delia has a big fear of snakes (ophidiophobia). "A great rattlesnake whipped past her feet and she screamed... Then she saw that it was the bull whip Sykes had tricked her with."
An analysis of this quote proves that Sykes's cruelty towards his wife demonstrates toxic masculinity through tactics of dominance, intimidation, and violence used to assert over a woman. Sykes has the belief and mindset that control equals manhood, reflecting patriarchal values that glorify male agression.
Physical and Emotional Abuse/Domination
"Two million women and one million men experience rape, stalking, or physical assault by a current or former romantic partner each year in the U.S. Not only do women report twice the incidents, but intimate partner violence (IPV) that women experience is typically more severe. Explanations for IPV gender asymmetry include male dominance attitudes, hostile sexism, and men's control-seeking. There are gaps in our knowledge of how attitudes and control-seeking co-relate to influence IPV. This study demonstrates a mediation analysis to investigate these relationships. Data were from a cross-sectional online survey of male undergraduate students from a public Southeastern university. The survey measured attitudes of male dominance and hostile sexism, desire for control, and IPV perpetration."
"Centrality of Control-Seeking in Men's Intimate Partner Violence Pepretation"
This study from October 14, 2014 published by PubMed is a survey of male undergraduates in the Southeastern part of the United States. The study examines how male dominance attitudes and hostile sexism are linked with IPV (intimate partner violence). The study of this survey finds that men who strongly believe in having male dominance and often exhibit high hostility towards women are the ones who are more likely to commit physical abuse.
This specific study parallel's "Sweat" as it shows Sykes's behavior towards Delia (physical intimidation, use of the whip, threats). His behavior is very much about wanting dominance and control. The findings within the study affirms that abusive behavior correlates with male dominance attitudes and a sense of entitlement, which is similar to the behavior that Sykes displays in the story.
Thesis Point #2: Infidelity and Public Humiliation
The second example of toxic masculinity that Hurston brings to light is infidelity and public humilation. In the story, Syles was having an affair with another woman named Bertha. He openly flaunted his affair with her, and he goes as far as to even bring her into town in front of everyone. "He strutted in, laughing loudly, with Bertha, his woman, on his arm." An analysis of this quote proves that Sykes has the need to show off his affair, and that this need of his is driven by his inflated ego and the desire to prove his "manliness" through sexual conquest, or sleeping with multiple women. Instead of treating women with empathy or respect, Sykes treats women as posessions or trophies, which is another sign of toxic masculine pride.
Flaunting Affairs/Public Humiliation
"This research examined how gender and moral values affect young people’s views on extramarital affairs. The study used a survey on 493 college students from five countries about whether affairs could ever be justified. The study also probed how important they felt responsibility and fairness are to see if gender or morals predicted attitudes on affairs. The study found that men were a bit more likely than women to say affairs could sometimes be justified, but the difference was small. More interestingly, men who valued responsibility more were less likely to justify affairs. But men who valued fairness more were more likely to justify affairs. This suggests men may think about responsibility and fairness differently when evaluating affairs. Responsibility may connect more to social norms against affairs for men. But some men may see affairs as personally fair, even if norms suggest it’s wrong. Their own sense of fairness may justify affairs, despite social disapproval. In contrast, women’s views were less affected by their senses of responsibility and fairness. This implies men do complex moral calculations about affairs weighing social norms versus personal preferences. Their interpretations of morals like fairness shape their attitudes."
"Fair but Irresponsible: How Moral Sense Affect Young Male's Attitudes Toward External Affairs"
This study from 2024 published by SageJournals is a study that surveyed university students from multiple countries (Germany, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan) about the attitudes towards extramarital affairs (cheating). The study found that males are somewhat more likely than females to consider that extramarital affairs can be justified, even though the difference is relatively small. The study also showed that perceptions of responsibility and fairness do not strongly affect those attitudes in some groups.
This specific study parallels Sweat by showing that not only does Sykes have an affair but he publicly parades Bertha around, taking pride in humiliating Delia. He uses the affair not just as private betrayal but to show his male dominance. The study underlines that such behavior is not merely private but tied to broader moral and gender norms that allow or rationalize male infidelity under certain conditions.
Thesis Point #3: Economic Exploitation and Contribution Refusal
The third and final example of toxic masculinity that Hurston brings to light is economic exploitation and contribution refusal. In the story, Sykes mocks Delia for her hard labor and spends all of the money that she makes, despite the fact that she works hard washing white people's clothes to support them. "Ah done tole you time and again to keep them white folks' clothes outa dis house."
An analysis of this quote proves that Sykes refuses honest work and demeans Delia's efforts of supporting their household because her efforts threaten his sense of masculine superiority. This quote really reflects toxic masculinity as Sykes equates "real manhood" with dominance rather than partnership or responsibility.
"Economic abuse in an intimate partner relationship typically occurs to women in an abusive relationship and is a practice of male abusers in forcing female partners to be financially dependent on them, making it more difficult for them to leave the relationship. Tactics of economic abuse include ruining the partner’s ability to buy on credit, controlling the amount of money the partner spends, and discouraging or preventing the partner from entering or sustaining employment that will provide her a separate source of income. One study of IPV survivors found that within the last 12 months, 94 percent experienced physical abuse; 95 percent experienced psychological abuse; 94 percent experienced economic control by the abuser; 92 percent experienced behaviors of economic control; 88 percent experienced employment sabotage; and 79 percent experienced economic exploitation. The study concluded that women who experience economic abuse are four times more likely to experience physical abuse."
Economic Abuse/Refusal to Contribute
"Economic Abuse in the Life of Survivors"
This report from July 2021 that was published by the U.S. Office of Justice Programs defines economic abuse as one of the distinct forms of Intimate Partner Violence. The report includes tactics such as controlling a partner's money, work prevention, ruining credit, sabotaging employment, etc. The report finds that a large majority of people who experience IPV also experienced economic abuse from their partners.
This specific study parallels Sweat by showing that even though Delia works long hours doing laundry to support the household, Sykes always tries to limit her autonomy, spend the money she makes, and discourages her or insults her. The real-life studies validate that such economic abuse is common, harmful, and ties to power imbalances like the ones in the story.
Conclusion
Zora Neale Hurston sheds light on the topic of toxic masculinity by having it embodied through one of her main characters. Sykes embodies toxic masculinity through acts of violence, cheating, and economic control. He uses all three of these tactics to assert power and suppress Delia's independence. However, Sykes's acts of toxic masculinity ultimately leads to his downfall, which is Hurston's way of critiquing gender cruelty and how it's destructive.
Work Cited Page
https://biblioklept.org/2013/01/21/sweat-zora-neale-hurston/ ("Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston "1926") https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23400847/ (Centrality of Control-Seeking in Men's Intimate Partner Violence Pepretation") https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440241264190 (Fair but Irresponsible: How Moral Sense Affect Young Male's Attitudes Toward External Affairs) https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/economic-abuse-life-survivors (Economic Abuse in the Life of Survivors)