Surveilling the Male Body

Typically when we hear the word “objectification,” we think of the objectification and sexualization of women in the media. From any major fashion advertisement, like the Alexander Wang ad below, to Telenovelas and soap operas, women’s bodies are constructed as a site for the viewing and pleasure of others. We have seen the negative impacts of objectification on women, like the growing number of women diagnosed with an eating disorder or exhibiting signs of disordered eating. But, with such a high focus on the objectification of women, have we lost sight of the prevalence of the objectification of men’s bodies, too? 

Especially with the growing use of social media among both genders, the objectification of men is at an all-time high. Through the study of male body builders on Instagram, it was found that these men objectify their bodies in order to reach an aesthetic ideal, one that is frequently portrayed on social media. Men, like women, are learning to value their bodies based on the pleasure and viewing of other people. But, if the objectification of men is truly on the rise, why is it that we don’t hear as much about it as we do of women? It seems to me that we are stuck in the mindset that women are objectified and men do the objectifying. How could it be the other way around? I think our society needs to reevaluate the beauty standards it holds for both genders in order to really understand the impacts that objectification has and how we can improve the lives of all through the elimination of unrealistic beauty ideals.

The Art of NOT Being Feminine

The masculine/feminine dichotomy is one that is so ingrained in our society it seems rare that it is ever challenged. But, the most peculiar aspect of this stark difference between gender identities is the idea that being masculine, in part, means NOT being feminine. In fact, being masculine, as our society defines it, often includes putting down women and anyone who is not a heterosexual, masculine man. The implications of this anti-feminine identity are far-reaching and have negative impacts on pretty much anyone that doesn’t embody a hypermasculine identity.

We often wonder why women are disproportionately the victims of interpersonal violence. When we take a closer look at the foundation that men’s core identities lay on, it is not as surprising that men are mostly the perpetrators of violence, and women the victims. From a young age, boys and girls receive different messages about what is acceptable behavior. This starts in schools, where teachers reward aggressive behaviors in boys and reprimand them in girls. Similarly, through adolescence, boys are lifted up and praised for “sexual conquests” while girls are called a “slut” or “whore” for being sexually active. No matter what life stage it is, girls’ actions are viewed negatively compared to the same actions in boys. Even more astonishing is the fact that boys’ rewarded actions often come at the expense of girls’ mental and physical well-being. This, in part, explains why women are disproportionately the victims of violence and men the perpetrators of it. Much of the blame is to fall on society for socializing boys and men to believe that masculinity has to do with not being feminine. We must change the way we think about masculinity in order to save femininity and the women that are victims of our men’s actions, as well as the men who fear straying from the hypermasculine identity. 

Why Don't Men Cry?

Growing up, we are taught that girls are emotional and sensitive, while boys feel no emotion and have a heart of steel. Not until growing up and studying gender studies have I realized how harmful this concept is, which most of our youth are brought up to believe. The concept of the “man box” has jumped out at me throughout this semester’s studies because it finally explains, and labels, why men don’t cry. Not only why they don’t cry, but why they seem to “care less” than women in heterosexual relationships, why people use “gay” as an insult, and why calling a man “weak” is a huge blow to their ego and their identity. 

We can’t say it’s men’s fault that they are hesitant to show their emotions or be anything but hypermasculine and heterosexual. In fact, we have society to blame for that. Starting from a young age, boys are socialized in a way that teaches them that ‘man = strong’. The “man box” incorporates tons of other “masculine” traits, like strength, muscularity, dominance, superiority to women, toughness, and anger. It’s no surprise that when men grow up, they act out these concepts of masculinity that they were taught their whole lives. To make matters worse, men fear breaking out of this stereotypical male identity because they are taught that they will face ridicule from their peers, and even violence, for not conforming. Men have admitted that the fear of straying from the “man box” is what keeps them conforming to masculine stereotypes for much of their lives. 

It’s a sad reality that our men feel pressured to live up to a stereotypically masculine identity because of the forces that tell them they must do so. The fear of ridicule and shame from their peers is often what keeps men adhering to “man box” qualities which only furthers the belief that men must fit those criteria. When will men feel comfortable crying publicly? It’s hard to say, but one thing is for certain: it won’t happen unless society becomes comfortable accepting men for who they really are.