I’d never really thought about the role of masculinity in our world today. The expectation for young men growing up isn’t talked about often, especially those roles for men of lower socioeconomic status.
After watching the documentary Tough Guise 2, I feel like my eyes have been opened to an entirely new plane that exists, parallel to ours: the one that growing boys live through, have to measure up to, and the source of so many poisonous ideals today.
Tough Guise 2 covers the topics of the origins of masculinity: the old heroes of Western film, the monosyllabic gangsters of film noir, the quintessential and super-built action hero of today… our view of “a strong man” has been surprisingly constant throughout time. Someone fierce, his muscles as big as a tree trunk, protective, you know the type. Look to most comic books, movies, or any popular media in existence.
The Casanova, impulsive hero that we train our boys to be can be incredibly detrimental to their self-worth, and it certainly shapes their ideas of the world. The man is supposed to protect the woman. The man is supposed to be a figure of strength and glory. The man is supposed to be an unmoving statue, brimming with testosterone. These ideologies leak into real life, constructing the very patriarchal notions that we strive to disassemble today.
Hypermasculinity, Jackson Katz, the pioneering educator and narrator of the documentary, explains, is not only the problem of men—it’s also part of women’s problems. We’ve all got to start paying attention to the idea of masculinity that is slowly damaging our sons and brothers, nephews, our male kith and kin, today.
WATCH: Justin Baldoni: Why I’m Done Trying To Be “Man Enough” | TED Talk
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
