Meryl Streep Does Not Agreebr With the Term ‘Toxic Masculinity’ In an interview with ‘Vanity Fair,’br Streep confessed that she finds thebr label “toxic masculinity” to be harmful. She feels that the term is detrimentalbr when applied to just one gender, asbr women can also exhibit toxic traits. Meryl Streep,br via ‘Vanity Fair’ Toxic masculinity refers to masculine standardsbr that society enforces, such as suppressedbr emotions and violence equating power. Streep thinks that inbr labels alienate peoplebr and are not helpful. Meryl Streep,br via ‘Vanity Fair’ This isn't the first time Streep hasbr vocalized her opposition of labels. In 2015 she rejected thebr “feminist” label, saying she’dbr rather be called a “humanist.