Assignment #6 - Tough Guise

Activity #6 - Due Friday October 5th @ midnight

Understanding masculinity to be socially constructed allows for the ability to change. It is better than having biology in charge, because for those who feel that masculinity has faults or errs there is hope for a better system through individual and collective change. Masculinity is dominated by men’s approval for each other. All the aspects of manhood including; athleticism, bravery, courage, and strength all revolve around the need of men to fit in among other men. According to Kimmel homophobia is generated not through a few of homosexuals, but more so through the fear that the individual male will be unmasked as a “sissy”. Homosexuality is seen as a key loss of manhood. I agree that homophobia can arise from the fear of being seen as not masculine. The culture that most men are raised in teaches them to fear showing any signs of feminism. Young boys are told not to play with dolls, but to play with trucks instead. Boys can’t wear pink, boys can’t cry, the lists of restrictions are endless. To me it seems natural that the children who assume the proper gender role as males will eventually develop homophobia as adults. Now some people could say this is a natural progression and therefore homophobia is a natural fear, but I see homophobia as a reason why we as a culture should try to change the gender norms. If we can recognize that we are attributing to the growth of hate by the ways we raise our children, why don’t we change?

The “tough guise” is the front that men are forced to put up in order to survive among their peers. It includes acting tough, unemotional, athletic and other dominate masculine traits. It can also include violence, criminality, and risky behavior. Through media and pop culture, men are learning that this guise is the only way to control their sense of masculinity. Masculinity is defined through the images seen on television sets and movie screens. Boys try to imitate the images produced in order to seem popular and cool in their community. In order to change men need to look at their actions and the motivations behind them. If media, popularity, and pressure are the motivating factors then it probably isn’t the right decision. Being a good person starts with the individual. Women can help in this change as well. Women can help break down the “tough guise” but supporting those who reject the system. Men would be less likely to want to keep up the pretext if they knew that women were not into it. Institutions especially the media could change the images that they project to the public. I think that the tough guise video will provide necessary insight to the world of masculinity. I almost felt that in the Kimmel article homophobia was given an excuse to exist because it was generated through masculinity. This notion was very disturbing to me.