Representations of Masculinity Flashcards
What is hegemonic masculinity and who coined the term?
Connell: the idea that there’s a particular view of masculinity, including gender hierarchy and hierarchy among men.
Boys should aspire to be ‘alpha males’ and ‘real men’
What is Easthorpe’s masculine myth?
Media e.g. Hollywood films and video games give the impression masculinity is based on strength, aggression and violence.
This is an ideological myth, majority of men are unable to reach the goal of true hegemonic masculinity
Why is the dominant portrayal of hegemonic masculinity toxic/ damaging for males?
- Provides young boys with a lack of role models
- Could cause future issues within relationships/ regarding mental health
What did MacNamra’s content analysis of a range of media outlets find?
- 80% of representations negative, showed men as violent and aggressive
- 20% focused on the metrosexual male
- Men demonised
What is the metrosexual male?
A man interested in fashion, grooming and appearance
What did 1980s magazines aimed at m/c men portray masculine identity as in contrast to previous generations?
- They should treat women as equals
- They should care more about their appearance
- Men are emotionally vulnerable
- Active fatherhood is important
What does Mort argue that male fashion magazines and products reflect?
The change in social attitudes of men
the emergence of the metrosexual man
How does Edwards disagree with Mort?
The ‘new man’ is a product of ads so they can sell products to males and females
After studying the content of men’s magazines, what did Gauntlett find?
They were extremely positive
Encourages men to be caring, considerate lovers, useful in the home, fashionable and funny
How does Colliers argue that representations are negative?
Most men’s magazines are contradictory
There’s still images of rugged macho men in pop culture
Women are still sexualised
How does Rutherford also argue that representations of men are negative?
There’s an attempt to reclaim trad masculine authority by celebrating trad male concerns in their content
e.g. finances (links to idea of men as breadwinners/ providers), heterosexuality (men as husbands/ impregnators)
How are metrosexual males in the media represented in a contradictory way?
Whannel: David Beckham represented as both ‘metrosexual’ and ‘retributive’ (trad) masculinity
His identity is ‘fluid’ - his good looks and clothes but also his football skills, family man, rich
Liberal feminist view of gender in the media
representations becoming more diverse
e.g. metrosexuality
Radical feminist view of gender in the media
internet had massively negative impact on women -> sexualisation, oppression e.g. pornography, only fans
idea that men are aggressive, more powerful, stronger and can oppress reinforces their power
Popular feminist view of gender in the media
things like only fans are empowering, giving performers control over their image
men are also commodifying themselves not only women
