This article is about how a mans masculinity is stereotyped by the media. Some examples are the joker, the jock, the strong silent type, the big shot and action hero. I chose this article because I believe it tells the truth about how men are suppose to look, act , and feel according to the media.
This article can relate to the movie Ethnic Notions that we watched in class not for the race issue but how certain people/sex is portrayed in the media. According to the media a man should be strong both mentally and physically. He should not have to rely on anybody else to solve his problems. This is a perfect example of how media can affect the way we are suppose to act and look. It is pounded into peoples a mans brain that if you do not live up to this certain criteria than you are not a “man.” You always see in commercials well fit men that are happy and they have a great life. The lives of men are almost placed in order for you as you grow up. Basically you should be a healthy man who makes a good living to support a family, someone who doesn’t show a lot of emotion, and the one who can save the day. Commercials make it look so easy but they forget the very important thing that alters our course daily and that is life. Life throws us a lot of curveballs and if we can not solve you can not solve them by yourself then you are looked upon as weak or not masculine. If a person is depicted as something and it is out in the media long enough, then people will start to believe it even though that might not be the case for everyone. I guess probably the most important thing that can change the way people look at you or to achieve masculinity is by being successful. We have to accept the fact that this country is based on how successful you are. If you have success or money than you can change the way your personal image is viewed. For example if you are someone in a wheelchair and live a normal or poor life than you are viewed as someone who can’t take care of themselves. But on the other hand if you achieve success than the disability factor is kind of pushed under the rug and you are viewed as a strong person because you overcame the odds instead of just feeling sorry for yourself. This view of masculinity can be very overwhelming and the bar is set so high that a majority of us fail. I believe that we should not be looked down upon if we lack a few of the characteristics because we are not the same; we are individuals who have different goals. I found this article to very interesting and true. There is such a high standard for men to succeed and you feel the effects of that on a daily basis. Men are not suppose to be emotional and if you do lack a certain quality society sees you as a weak person. I guess one of the biggest obstacles would be body image. A man should be a well fit and healthy man and society will let you know if you do not fit into that category and it hurts sometimes. This kind of pressure can lead people down a path of violence or cheating in order to achieve the goal.
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