Be a MAN. Do MANLY things. in The irresistible urge to rant, riff and ramble

RR: What defines ‘masculinity’? What do you think is ‘manly’?
Come, I need all comments, in regards to this. What are your thoughts? (for an academic paper)

Me:

Looking at it as a writer, I think that all cultures share one implicit understanding of “masculinity”– the possession of agency and effectiveness.

As an example, look at Harry Potter. Why is his mother dying to shield him from Voldemort such an act of greatness, while his father dying moments before doing the same thing is nothing? It’s not because she used her death to cast a spell that took him down; it is clearly implicit that it was because her act of love in doing so was so great that it triggered an ancient magic.

Because, you see, a woman willing to die to save her child is the ultimate ideal; her ability to do so is secondary. But a man who dies trying to save his family and doesn’t take the enemy down in doing so is an utter failure as a man. (Note that I don’t agree with this.)

Masculinity as defined, therefore, as linked with the ability to reshape the universe to your will.

So far this is pretty bad, because by defining “men” as “people who can impose their will upon the universe”, you are also saying “people who are not men don’t get to do this.”

It gets worse.

See, a lot of people cannot distinguish between what I call “power” – the ability to force people to do what you want them to do– with what I call “strength”– the ability to do what you want.

So when they say “a man is someone who can impose his will on the universe”, they cannot understand it as anything other than “A REAL MAN BEATS ASS!”

So for these people, masculinity becomes totems of power. If power is determined by muscle, a man must have more muscle than anyone else. If power is determined by money, a man must have more money than anyone else. If power is determined by guns, then by GAWD a REAL man has to have bigger guns and more ammo than anyone else.

Masculinity, in fashion, then becomes a matter of projecting power. The first thing that comes to mind is that jackets are cut to broaden the shoulders. I am sure fashion designers have a number of other tricks. The difference between male and female cut is not just a matter of body shape. (I just checked with Rain Nighte and she confirms this.)

Alternatively, look at cars. Look at motorbikes. The archetypical man’s bike is a 900cc racer or basso Harley Davidson. The archetypical woman’s bike is a Vespa.

One is raw power on two wheels. The other is a Hello Kitty accessory.