In the story “Trapped” by Shelby Raebeck, Ricky and Lance demonstrate how toxic masculinity causes young men to struggle with expressing their thoughts and emotions. Lance builds up anger throughout the story from the police officer’s harassment and Ricky’s ignorance. As a result, Lance’s “body tightened, shoulders straightened, and he stepped up close, bringing his face within a few inches of mine” (Raebeck 6). This expression of emotions shows how Lance is incapable of properly expressing himself to his friends. After all, being a male has taught him that expressing his emotions is wrong…