The definition of masculinity can be subjective from person to person. But basically, I would consider masculinity to be the essence of a man. Thus, ‘masculinities’ would probably be all the traits and characteristics that encompass this “essence”, or what a man ought to be.
The look of a masculine man differs depending on the viewer and has undergone significant change over time. Knights in shining armour were definitely more heavily clothed than most of today’s print ad models. However, I do think that there are masculine ideals that remain unchanged, and I find the most prominent of these to be that of a leader.
The idea of masculinity being equated with leadership seems to be so rooted that we can even see it in little boys who pretend to be superheroes, police men, cowboys, firefighters, race car drivers, soldiers or any role involving some level of valor or strength. Men also generally seem to prefer action movies (or at least compared to the majority of females). Being a leader is almost paralleled with being a hero. This is evident in the case of marriages where men are usually depicted as being the ones to lead the family by having a good, stable job to provide for his wife and kids. It’s like the father figure is basically Superman saving Lois Lane (his wife) from the danger of finances and stress. The leader/hero figure is also evident in the workforce, where men appear to value big leadership positions (eg. Being a C.E.O.) or jobs where they can feel the extent of their ‘contributions to humanity’ (eg. Being an architect or an engineer). Most print ads also try to physically embody a stereotypical or cultural hero—which is generally some buff guy with smoldering eyes, and either minimal clothing or a sharp business outfit. These print ad models are not by any means the face of masculinity. They’re probably just an exaggeration of a man’s underlying desire for strength. And I don’t think most guys would disagree with me if I said that they’d want to prove that they "have what it takes" to succeed, whether to themselves, or the rest of the world (Eldredge).
Whether this leader-hero-man is in the form of little boy dressed up as Captain America or a grown man trying to work his way up the corporate hierarchy, a “masculine” man seems to always be striving for that sense of heroism, control or leadership. I’m not trying to objectify men by saying that all men SHOULD be in control. I’m just speaking from the observation that most men appear as if they want to be.
Whether this leader-hero-man is in the form of little boy dressed up as Captain America or a grown man trying to work his way up the corporate hierarchy, a “masculine” man seems to always be striving for that sense of heroism, control or leadership. I’m not trying to objectify men by saying that all men SHOULD be in control. I’m just speaking from the observation that most men appear as if they want to be.
In 1984, George Orwell portrays Winston Smith as a seriously repressed dude. He has a job he detests and he can’t have sex. I am NOT saying that I think that chastity and an unfulfilling job equal emasculation; not at all. Rather, the role of Big Brother and the Party as having complete control over all of Oceania, and their severe scrutiny of their citizens (Orwell 5), completely deprives Winston of feeling entitled to his own happiness. If Winston doesn’t have ownership of his wants and thoughts, how is he supposed to find any assertion in his masculinity? Winston’s raging desire to destroy Big Brother and the Party (Orwell 19) begins to consume him so much that it even intertwines with his feelings for Julia. Consequently, having sex with her is not so much out of love as it is a form of revolt against Big Brother (Orwell 133). If anything, it is an example of Winston's desperate attempt to regain control over his life. Winston exemplifies that too much repression can result in violence. Likewise, he demonstrates the struggle to establish a sense of identity when one is repressed; in this case, his masculinity. (This is where I would like to subtly congratulate Sigmund Freud for his work in this topic, even though Civilization and Its Discontents was painstaking to get through).
1984 is a perfect example of what happens when masculinity, perhaps even human nature in general for that matter, becomes so repressed that it results in explosion. (Again, thanks Sigmund Freud). It is a story of a man trying to re-establish his masculinity, and the extent that people would go to in order to find themselves when their identities are jeopardized.
Works cited:
Eldredge, John. Wild At Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2001. Print.
Orwell, George. 1984. Ontario: Penguin Books, 2008. Print.
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