ABSTRACT
While not all masculinity is toxic, all masculinity is undermined and placed into crisis by toxic masculinity and the patriarchal power structures that it supports (and that support it). This chapter provides an overview of the relevant terms, ideologies, and concepts built upon in subsequent chapters of this book, including separating out and defining toxic masculinity. It is important to note that Russia is not unique in terms of the crisis in masculinity, toxic masculinity, or patriarchal power structures; these problems are global. This chapter finishes by elaborating on gender, power, and nations, before transitioning to an analysis of how such concepts can be applied to Russia in general and duelling in Russian culture in particular. I have noticed that public discussions of (toxic) masculinity often prompt comments that might be glossed as ‘not all men’. I am, of course, aware that not all men are violent; not all men are shooters; not all men are sexist; and anyone of any gender can be sexually assaulted. This is true both in Russia and worldwide. In turn, I want my readers to acknowledge this fact: ‘No, Not All Men are a threat to women. But we know any man could be. And that right there is the difference’ (Ford, Boys Will Be Boys, 2019, p. 122).
