Abstract

DIMARCO, Martín Hernán; CLARA MAZZOLA, Florencia  and  WALD, Gabriela Dalia. The “toxicity” in teenager narratives of three cities in Argentina. Rev. Mex. Sociol [online]. 2025, vol.87, n.3, pp.517-546.  Epub Aug 08, 2025. ISSN 2594-0651.  https://doi.org/10.22201/iis.01882503p.2025.3.62969.

This paper examines how the term “toxicity” is used in narratives about intimate relationships and love among teenagers in three Argentinean cities: Buenos Aires, Villa María, and San Juan. Through a thematic analysis of 70 semi-structured interviews, we found that “toxicity” is employed both to denounce forms of aggression and to distinguish between what is considered “healthy” and “unhealthy” in relationships, as well as to downplay the severity of violent actions and to conceal abusive practices. We argue that assuming the term “toxic” and its underlying logic are inherently critical and progressive obscures the various meanings it encompasses, including its potential for depoliticization.

Keywords : violence; toxicity; intimate relationships; teenagers; Argentina.

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