The Life of Legendary MASH* Actor Alan Alda

In 1975, Alda wrote “What Every Woman Should Know About Men” for Ms. magazine. The satirical essay framed exaggerated masculinity as “testosterone poisoning,” a phrase that became closely tied to his public support for feminism.

The piece fit his image as a male celebrity willing to discuss gender roles during the Equal Rights Amendment era. It also made him a target for critics who thought the phrase went too far, turning one magazine essay into a lasting controversy.