Masculinity has been projected on TV and film as strong, rigid, and domineering for years. However, who and what has pre-arranged this concept to be displayed for millions of viewers for so long? The dictionary definition of masculinity is qualities that characterize men. What essentially characterizes a man? The dictionary definition of masculinity is eminently vague and requires a more in-depth analysis. According to the University of Richmond, masculinity is defined as specific elements that describe what a man is. They also link gender to masculinity which is determined to be a social construct, “[it] is one of many ways we as humans make meaning and create social structures. A person's gender is based on how society sees them as a gendered being. Gender is based in part on biological characteristics (genitalia, facial hair, etc.), but it is largely based on society's idea of how a person of a particular gender should be” (University of Richmond). Therefore, societal norms dictate gender roles and socio-cultural expectations based on their biological identities. Men are expected to demonstrate masculine behaviors justified by a system of beliefs. The masculine behaviors that men are supposed to adhere to, without consequences, are outlined by T. Calasanti from the Encyclopedia of Gerontology, “The ability of men as a group to be breadwinners (gender role), to compete with other men for status and wealth and make significant wages, also rests upon the often invisible, unpaid care work and reproductive labor provided by women in family homes (gender role) out of love” (Calasanti Pages 592-601). This belief in gender roles has been seen in several different movies and television series since the 1960s. Though this representation has been a traditional ideology for decades, there are new-age films and television series that challenge the contentious idea of what masculinity is supposed to exhibit from the 1960s to current times.
In the television series Bewitched, Darrin Stephens is a mortal husband that works to provide for his wife and children, as his wife, Samantha Stephens, who happens to be a witch, takes care of the house and children with minimal use of her powers. The television series clearly displayed specific gender roles of men and women with a twist of comedy and fantasy. However, these roles cannot be ignored and were a representation of societal norms of the early 1960s and 1970s. A study conducted by Nicholas Buchanan in which he was using students in history class and Edward Bellamy’s novel Looking Backward: 2000-1887, published in 1888 to analyze gender roles and predictions about the future of housework. Bellamy incorporated how technology would be a tremendous assistance in housework in alleviating some of the duties of women and allowing them to work in the field, “He clearly portrays men as the stronger sex, keeping women in the same inferior position that they held in the 1800s when he wrote the novel. He reinforced gender roles by designating easier jobs for women and giving the harder jobs to men... Although Bellamy’s sexist depiction of women can be easily criticized by today’s standards, we have to keep in mind that this novel was written in the 1800s...Bellamy’s depiction of women was meant to be progressive, and it is safe to say that compared to the standards of his time, it is pretty out there” (Buchanan 2016). Though Bellamy was trying to predict a more progressive lifestyle for women, he still supported traditional gender roles by assigning jobs that were masculine to men and feminine to women. This concept depicts the characteristics of masculinity by appointing specific roles for men and women, reasserting the dominant role for men. Therefore, he assumes that in the future the societal norm will be that men are still superior and dominant,“In fact, many inequalities between men and women are depicted...The women work in less grueling circumstances, for fewer hours, and are given more time off. Is this out of kindness or does this stem from notions of inferiority? I argue the latter....However, in the eyes of Bellamy in 1888, these seem to be radical improvements for women. In contrast to the 1980s, these women, although segregated, still had a place in society with opportunities denied to their predecessors... Although there are still echoes of anti-feminism in the corporate world, women today have surpassed the expectations of Bellamy....” (Buchanan 2016). Though women still contributed to society according to Bellamy, men would still remain the primary contributors to society, allowing them to make the decisions most beneficial to society (referring to the main contributors of society, men).
Moreover, a modern-day show called Euphoria depicted a character, Nate Jacobs, that projected these traditional gender roles. He was a high school student-athlete from a wealthy family that struggled with his masculinity. He often manipulated others to get what he wanted, which put him in a constant position of power. He displayed violent and tyrannical behaviors as a way to assert his dominance and control in general. Even decades later, men still struggle to open up emotionally, allowing themselves to be more personal and vulnerable “Social cognitive theory recognizes that the majority of gender differences are socially cultivated by a society that attributes stereotypical gender roles in a sole gender binary system of only men and women were treated very differently, lesser than men, and denied many rights''(Weinhold and Harrison 2021). Hence, why Jacobs had gotten away with most of his malicious endeavors. He was looked at as a role model in the school and had to save face many times to uphold his image. Despite the more recent, modern-day society, traditional gender roles are still shown, indicating that these roles are still prominent in society. Jacobs has been influenced by his father who struggles with the same identity crisis “The years between adolescence and adulthood (18–29 years) are classified as “emerging adulthood,” a distinct life stage where individuals struggle with uncertainty about future life endeavors including marriage, parenting, and career….Therefore, in a world where media (e.g., television, movies, news) are seemingly inescapable, this research investigates emerging adults’ (18–23 years) everyday life gender norm experiences and media gender norm perceptions to assess how these two realms are related to schematic constructions of gender norm attitudes and adulthood expectations. It is imperative to concurrently consider everyday life experiences and media perceptions in an American society where emerging adults’ everyday realities are pervaded by technology”(Weinhold and Harrison 2021). Emerging adults such as Nate Jacobs are easily influenced by societal norms, which then extends into adulthood, where the cycle continues, “The process through which children learn intersubjective norms may therefore be akin to a social referencing process. Social referencing is a phenomenon frequently observed among children, in which their evaluations of things like toys are directly influenced by others’ nonverbal responses to those same things”(Lamer 2022) His father’s influence has guided Jacobs down a path of uncertainty and self-destruction as he struggles to come to terms with his sexual identity and who he is as a young man. It is hard to maneuver through life when you have pressures from different angles pulling you in different directions without the proper guidance. In addition, the expectation of society creates an immense amount of pressure on a young mind, “The process of establishing a belief system begins at a very young age. A child's mind tends to be easy to mold into believing what appears to be “normal,” which can include the normalization of stereotypical behaviors for boys and girls” (Fernandez and Menon 2022). This analysis proves that Nate Jacob struggles with his masculine identity mostly due to exposure to the media and his father. He has been shaped to follow certain traditional philosophies that define what masculinity is supposed to look like. This has also contributed to what society will see as acceptable and if not, then consequences will then be ordained. In contrast, there are positive masculinity representations in television films that may have been overlooked.
For instance, in the popular drama/horror series Stranger Things, Steve Harrington is also a high school student-athlete who tormented those who he felt were inferior in the social hierarchy. However, what made him different from Nate Jacobs (Euphoria), was that he reinvented himself and redefined masculinity. Steve has grown into a more protective and caring character as the show has progressed, “Research on representations of gender usually focuses on aspects of femininity, since women are still marginalized in the media; diverse feminist discourses depict various facets of on-and off-screen female suppression through male hegemony. However, hegemonic masculinity (cf. Connell 1990) does not solely threaten femininity but also pushes male minorities out to the margins of representation” (Fernandez and Menon 2022). Harrington surrounded his entire identity with his girlfriend, Nancy Wheeler, and his social status at his high school. When he couldn’t get his way regarding his Wheeler and assumed false accusations about her, he started to indulge in that stereotypical tradition of degrading women to make oneself look superior. As the show progressed into the next 3 seasons, you see how there’s a drastic shift in his masculine identity. Harrington became selfless and sympathetic. He looked after Wheeler’s siblings and friends as they went through a complex journey to save humanity.
Furthermore, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air displayed positive masculinity representation by Philip Banks. Philip Banks was a successful lawyer and judge that supported and spoiled his children so they to have better lives. He was an authoritative figure but not to the extent that he didn’t show affection or respect to his wife and children. He took in his nephew, Will Smith, to give him a more positive outlook on life, instead of getting wrapped in the adverse environment of West Philadelphia. Will Smith did not have his biological father present as a positive role model. Therefore, Philip Banks had advanced into a father figure role, to give Will a chance to thrive in society. Banks was strict yet compassionate as Will and his children navigate through their teenage and young adult years “A burgeoning literature in cultural psychology suggests that intersubjective norms uniquely predict an individual's behavior, over and above those individuals’ personal beliefs or values”(Lamer 2022). Banks' behavior influenced Will to put his best foot forward and make a positive impact. He was able to do this because Banks showed him love, compassion, and attention. He wasn’t neglectful and protected Will as soon as a threat presented itself. This also allowed Will to become vulnerable yet masculine at the same time, it was okay to display emotion and empathy in front of others. Philip Banks’ demonstration of affection also reformulated the definition of masculinity. It has broken the cycle of harsh and rigid behavior to enforce a healthier lifestyle.
Lastly, the spin-off film, Creed, was about the son of a former heavyweight boxer, Adonis Johnson, who was inspired to become a boxing legend as well. Adonis Johnson (Creed), developed their own ideologies and concepts of masculinity by establishing his own personal identities throughout the film. Adonis Johnson was trying to follow in the footsteps of his father by building his boxing career. He struggled with his masculinity since a child. He was a juvenile delinquent trying to find his way until the wife of Adonis Creed decided to raise him after his father died. He later realized the work he had stopped living in his father’s shadow and created his own legacy. He had to win and lose fights to understand himself. This allowed him to diminish his tough exterior and succumb to new friendships, love, and constructive criticism. Rocky Balboa assumed the role of a mentor to train Johnson like a champion. He was reluctant as he did not want to see him suffer or fail, as he saw his father. He personally blamed himself for his death, which drove him to retirement. He transformed himself to become a selfless and compassionate individual that accepted the change and new ideals, “But the film — even back when it was silent — was like an instruction manual for the American experience. For a nickel at the nickelodeon, a foreign fellow fresh off the boat could see exactly how American men dressed, how they greeted each other (with a handshake, not with European kisses on each cheek), and, more generally, how people in his newly adopted country behaved. Admittedly, silent films used a kind of shorthand for American behavior — stereotypes, to allow directors to brush in characters quickly without dialogue: women were almost always domestic, delicate and passive, while men were outgoing, strong and active” (Mondello 2014). Johnson displayed these characteristics throughout the film which is why it was challenging for him to define his own masculinity and who he was as an individual.
In conclusion, male masculinity has been placed in a pernicious vantage point in television and film, and there are few strong examples of healthy masculinity. Since the primitive productions of film and television, masculinity has been portrayed in only one dimension. Stereotypes used by society in the construction of gender are composed of characteristics believed to be typical either of women or of men. For example, the television series Bewitched and Euphoria presented two characters that displayed how society affected the way they should present themselves as men in order to become successful and dominant. Darrin Stephens (Bewitched) was the sole provider in the household who made most of the decisions and Nate Jacobs (Euphoria) was a stereotypical student-athlete who projected his insecurities onto other people through manipulation and tyrannical behaviors. Both characters were leaders in different environments that they were forced into. They had to demonstrate strong leadership qualities with little to no emotion, so they wouldn't evoke any vulnerability. In addition, the movie films Fences and Joker, also displayed concepts of destructive behavior to emphasize their dominance. This idea is a direct result of societal norms, reflecting the way society perceived how and what masculinity should look like. However, the traditional standards have varied as time progressed but can sometimes remain at large; some television series and cinematic films displayed unconventional traits such as gentle and caring rather than firm and unempathetic. An example of a shift in masculinity in television is Steve Harrington (Stranger Things) and Philip Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). Steve Harrington was a typical jock in the 1980s who undermined people who he thought were beneath him or threatened his masculinity. His character progressed into the second season as caring and sympathetic as he developed friendships with the other characters. Furthermore, Philip Banks was a successful lawyer and judge that supported and spoiled his children so they to have better lives. He was an authoritative figure but not to the extent that he didn’t show affection or respect to his wife and children. Lastly, movie films such as Creed provided characters such as Adonis Johnson (Creed), that developed their own ideologies and concepts of masculinity by establishing their personal identities throughout the film. Adonis Johnson was trying to follow in the footsteps of his father by building his boxing career. He later realized the work he had stopped living in his father’s shadow and created his own legacy. This allowed him to diminish his tough exterior and succumb to new friendships, love, and constructive criticism. He transformed himself to become a selfless and compassionate individual that accepted the change and new ideals. Societal norms define most of the rules in society and determine what is acceptable and what is not. According to Jake Nevins the Guardian, there has been evidence of shows and films dismantling of toxic masculinity, however, “But as the industry begins to slowly redress those imbalances and call time’s up on toxic men more generally, it’s becoming more nuanced and inquisitive about the ways those men, and boys, are depicted on-screen”(Nevins 2018). Moreover, according to Elizabeth Genter, men have an advantage in society though they suffer from societal pressure to display strong characteristics to what society would accept “Although men have many privileges that provide them with a social advantage compared to that of women, traditional masculine ideologies result in negative health outcomes for males”(Genter 2014). Though this representation has been a traditional ideology for decades, there are new-age films and television series that challenge the contentious idea of what masculinity is supposed to exhibit from the 1960s to current times.
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I think that there can be an entire discussion related to the way that media portrays men, especially under the guise of a mighty, masculine superhero complete with the big muscles, deep voice and damsel in distress, or a hypermasculine jock figure. Recent marvel films like Spiderman and Thor have begun to include male characters who have a more uncertain path and less imposing demeanor.