Q/A on 'WHY IT'S TIME TO STOP USING THE TERM SIMP'

Dear Readers,

Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who engaged with my previous newsletter regarding the term "simp" and its negative connotations. It was encouraging to see so many of you interested in having a discussion around this topic.

I received several questions from readers, and I would like to address some of them here.

One of the questions I received was about the term "toxic masculinity" and how it relates to my simp newsletter. Toxic masculinity refers to the societal norms and expectations placed upon men that promote aggressive behavior, suppression of emotions, and the assertion of dominance. The term toxic masculinity doesn't refer to masculinity itself, but rather the harmful societal expectations and pressures that are placed on men, and how it can be detrimental to their mental and emotional wellbeing. These beliefs and behaviors often include things like:

• Being tough, strong, aggressive, and dominant

• Rejecting anything that is considered feminine, such as showing emotion or asking for help

• Seeking power and status over others, especially women

Toxic masculinity is harmful because it limits the expression and well-being of men and boys, and it also contributes to violence, sexism, homophobia, and other social problems.

In my simp newsletter, I was talking about how toxic masculinity affects the way some men treat their girlfriends and how they judge other men who love their girlfriends affectionately. Some men may think that being loving, caring, supportive, or romantic towards their partners makes them weak, soft, or less manly. They may also mock or insult other men who do these things as being simps, which is a slang term that means someone who is too submissive or desperate for a woman's attention. By doing so, we are perpetuating toxic masculinity, which makes it difficult for men to express themselves fully without fear of ridicule or rejection.

I was arguing that this attitude is wrong and harmful, because it prevents men from having healthy and fulfilling relationships with their partners. It also creates a culture of shame and fear among men who want to express their love in different ways. Loving your girlfriend affectionately does not make you a simp; it makes you a good partner.

Another question I received was about how a man can be vulnerable to his partner without losing his respect and immunity as a man. Being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness; it takes strength to open up to someone and show them your true self. Vulnerability in a relationship can help build trust, intimacy, and understanding between partners. Being vulnerable can improve your relationship with your partner in many ways. It can help you communicate better, understand each other more deeply, resolve conflicts more effectively, support each other more fully, and create more intimacy and connection.

Some examples of how you can be vulnerable with your partner are:

• Telling them how you feel about them and what they mean to you

• Asking them for help or support when you need it

• Admitting when you make a mistake or when you don’t know something

• Sharing your fears or insecurities with them

• Expressing your hopes or dreams with them

• Showing them your hobbies or interests that they may not know about

• Asking them about their feelings, needs, fears, hopes, and dreams

• Listening to them attentively and empathetically

• Giving them compliments or appreciation

• Doing something nice or romantic for them

Being vulnerable does not mean crying all the time or being overly emotional. It means being authentic and genuine with your partner. It also does not mean losing your identity or independence as a man. It means being confident and comfortable with who you are.

In my newsletter, I was referring to those guys who felt shy to show love to their girlfriend because of the societal expectations placed upon men. It's essential to remember that there are different interpretations of the term "simp," and it depends on your perspective on life and relationships. However, when we use the term to ridicule men who show affection towards their partners, we are perpetuating harmful societal expectations that limit men's ability to express themselves fully.

In conclusion, I want to reiterate that my newsletter was not meant to dictate how people should define the term "simp." Instead, it was a call to stop using the term to ridicule men who show affection towards their partners. We should promote healthy relationship dynamics that allow both partners to express themselves freely without fear of ridicule or rejection. Thank you again to everyone who engaged with my newsletter, and I hope this has clarified some of the questions you had.

Sincerely,

Rhuthwrites 💜