It is hard to define one text that has sparked my thinking about different ways of viewing masculinity because it is partly an experience of people, a personal idea. Some may say that post-feminism has threatened masculinity. That is it dying because women are becoming more dominant and stereotypically men are supposed to be dominant.
A friend once said “Saying that a man being under threat by masculinity is like saying a well is under threat by water”. In other words, Masculinity is derived from what it is to be a man. However, i do not believe masculinity is only associated with men, it is also associated with women, for example, women can play sports and still be feminine. Nowdays masculinity is becoming much more open; men can be masculine and still hold the ‘traditional’ feminine traits. For example, men can now use beauty and maintenance products and therapies without being labelled as “feminine” (and not masculine). Products such as skincare treatments were traditionally targeted towards women a few years ago and it was considered not masculine to wear face-cream and was only accepted in society if the man was homosexual.
“Keep your face looking great with Moisturizer”
(askmen.com)
As for defining ‘masculine’, the media had established and perpetuated stereotypes over time. Not only is it established when a man is dominant, strong, competitive, but masculinity isn’t appealing now unless it comes with a heart. The new James Bond film (Casino Royale) reflects this change in definitions of masculinity; old Bond films show an indestructible chauvinistic superman, whereas Casino Royale shows a masculine emotional Bond.
An emotional man and a man that is conscious about the way he looks can still be immediately labelled as homosexual, and this is still the case in a few media texts. In the new TV series Ugly Betty, an extreme fashion-conscious man is portrayed as homosexual. However, in the television show ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’, a ‘feminine’ homosexual man teaches a hetrosexual man how to dress and act, bringing a more feminine side (and more attractive side) to the hetrosexual man. This makes it more acceptable for a homosexual man to take on feminine roles.
So is masculinity under threat? Or has it just changed so that it is more acceptable to take on traditional feminine traits and still be considered masculine? It can only be a good thing that in our society men can be sensitive and fashion conscious. It gives us all more freedom and a more open-mind.
