Blog Post 1 – What’s the Definition of “Masculinity”?

Outright, it’s hard for me to express my thoughts on masculinity in a simple way – mainly because I don’t know what I’m talking about, even though I know exactly what I’m talking about (bear with me for a sec). Here’s the big picture: I can’t fully explain what being a man is all about, which is for all the right reasons and not because my views on the topic are hard for others to understand (trust me, they aren’t). Rather, it’s because I’m confused – actually, I’m very confused – about the words “masculinity”, and “man” and “masculine” (and every word that has to do with the subject): what do those words mean? They’re so vague, so described, so stagnant and yet so quick to change with the times. 

Once, some time ago, being masculine meant being tough and dominant and strong enough to provide for those who weren’t. Even the most powerful political speaker in the House of Commons, Winston Churchill, put it quite clearly during one of his speeches: “A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality”. And yet, a few decades (not centuries) later and in a different corner of the world, the word’s meaning is changing at an alarming rate and people are struggling to rediscover it. Being a man no longer requires a person to be emotionless and ready for war – some might argue that being a man no longer requires a person to be born as a man either. And so, here’s why it’s difficult for me to express my thoughts on masculinity: the definition of the word is constantly changing from one place to the next. But why does the word’s meaning change from place to place? And how can a person’s environment change their views on masculinity? Well, here’s the short answer: 

The idea of masculinity is not a fixed idea but rather a constantly changing concept shaped by societal norms, needs and wants which vary from place to place. This implies that the word changes from one environment to the next, due to a large number of factors and individual perspectives.

Ready for the long answer? Great. First of all, you need to know where my data is coming from. The idea of a constantly changing definition of masculinity can be found in several works of art, whether it be poetics or even written works such as Carlos Gomez’s Guys Club: No Faggots, Bitches or Pussies Allowed. In the story, the protagonist Carlos is forced to endure the confusion caused by the ever changing definition of masculinity, and he learns to overcome the issue and figure out his own definition of masculinity. 

In Guys Club, Carlos goes on a trip down to Colombia to visit his extended family when he notices his aunt and sister painting their nails. Carlos manages to get his nails painted as well after practically begging them to do it, however he later regrets the decision when he gets made fun of by other kids his age, who call him a faggot. Carlos was faced with a shock he wasn’t ready to face: a wholly different definition of masculinity from the one he was accustomed to. Carlos’s new environment had clear societal norms which dictated what men should and should not do – in this case, the idea that guys shouldn’t paint their nails. However, Carlos was not accustomed to those different norms and because of that he left Colombia worse for wear. 

That being said, Carlos returns to the US and grows old. One day, he comes across a news article about Jenna Lyons taking a selfie with her baby boy, whose toenails were painted a flamboyant pink just like Carlos’s nails were painted so many years prior. The selfie generates loads of debate and backlash on the internet, which deeply affects Carlos. He then comes to a realisation that being masculine in the US should not mimic the strict norms of Colombia – rather, he comes to the realisation that the truest definition of masculinity is that of freedom. The freedom to express oneself without restrictions, to question anything and everything humanly possible, and to paint one’s nails any way they want without having to fear getting backlashes because of it.

And so, that’s why I can’t really tell you what being masculine is all about, even though I know my own definition of the word really well. Masculinity is what you make of it – it’s your own definition. As for the “global” definition of the word, it’s really just the average idea that most people in a society share. And so, if you want to figure out what being masculine is all about, I’d suggest you look around your neighbourhood and see what people want and need with your own two eyes. Find out for yourself what being a guy is all about. Most importantly, try to find as many definitions for the word as possible and not just the most accepted one – after all, the more definitions we as a society accept the better it would be for all of us.

Bibliography:

Gómez, Carlos Andrés “Guys Club: No Faggots, Bitches, or Pussies Allowed.” Man up: Cracking the Code of Modern Manhood, Gotham Books, 2012, pp. 65–83.