Blog 4

The Indigenous peoples of the North America have long held on the belief that gender differs significantly from the mainstream European norm. Sources such as Lara Campbell in “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period,” the documentary “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho,” and the presentation by Indigiqueer artist Glenn Gear all provide insight into the Indigenous perspectives that challenge the restrictive roles and point toward a more inclusive understanding of gender. By exploring expressions of gender roles, Indigenous traditions, and identity in the Indigenous worldview, both past and present, these works reveal the harmful impacts of colonialism while also offering inspiration for greater acceptance. In this blog, I will argue that Indigenous concepts of gender identity and expression promote exclusivity and examine how Indigenous gender roles contrast with the rigid European model. Next, I will discuss the resilience of the traditions that affirm gender diversity despite the colonial efforts to eliminate them and their culture. Finally, I will explore the long lasting effects of colonialism in suppressing Indigenous identity.

  Unlike Europeans, Indigenous people traditionally had more fluid gender roles within their society. As Keough and Campbell notes,French missionaries in the 17th century expressed surprise at the power exercised by Indigenous women compared to their European counterparts. For instance, when one missionary attempted to send a Montagnais boy to a Catholic school, the boy’s mother refused to allow it, demonstrating her authority within the family (16). Many Indigenous groups recognized third genders, now often called Two-Spirit people, who often embodied both masculine and feminine traits and filled special roles. The existence of Two-Spirit people challenges the rigid model of gender common in European society. However, as Tony Zosherafatain’s documentary shows, Indigenous people today who identify as LGBTQ+ still face discrimination and aggression, indicating the persistence of mainstream attitudes about gender.

  Despite colonial efforts to eliminate them and their culture, many Indigenous traditions that embrace gender diversity have persisted. For instance, the Canadian government banned the practice of potlatch ceremonies in Indigenous communities from 1885 to 1951 because the rituals conflicted with the assimilationist goals (Noakes). Potlatches played important social, political, and spiritual roles in bonding their community. Their suppression was an attempt to destroy the Indigenous culture.

  However, the European gender norms through colonial policies has left damaging legacies for Indigenous communities. As Glenn Gear explained in hsi presentation, colonial efforts to “Kill the Indian” notably through residential schools where he has relatives attend, stopping him from learning his culture’s views about gender and identity and other important traditions. Assimilation sought to impose conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Yet Gear’s works to reclaim his identity through art and film whilst powerfully  challenging mainstream ideas about gender by drawing on Indigenous perspectives and talking about Indigenous culture.

  To conclude, The traditional Indigenous worldview embraces gender as part of a holistic identity bound to community, spirit, and traditions. Whilst colonialism has disrupted the spread of Indigenous knowledge, examining these 2 perspectives and practices reveals possibilities for building a more and just, inclusive society.

Works Cited:

Keough, Willeen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16–28

Noakes, Taylor. “Potlatch Ban”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 11 January 2024, Historica Canada. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/potlatch-ban. Accessed 13 May 2024.

Gear, Glenn, presenter. 29 Apr. 2024, Montreal, Vanier College.

Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company, http://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

The Burdens of Blackness

Racism and stereotyping remain serious issues facing Black communities in North America today. Both Desmond Cole’s memoir “The Skin We’re In” and Jordan Peele’s film “Get Out” provide a good perspective into the burdens placed on Black men by racism and oppression in Canadian and American society. Through their unique views, Cole and Peele show how Black men across North America are dehumanized by the legacy of colonialism and slavery. However, both of these works also humanize Black men and demonstrate their resilience in pushing back against old racist structures.

The titles and characters in both of these great works reflect the racist fixation imposed on Black men’s skin color and physic. In Get Out, Chris is objectified and reduced because of his appearance and skin tone by the white people around him. Cole discusses how Black men are judged as threats or criminals in Canada based solely on their appearance and skin color. He describes being racially profiled by police as a teenager, where officers saw him only as a suspect rather than a human being. This reflects the broader experience of Black men being defined and constrained by their race in White-dominated societies.

Key scenes in Get Out and events in Cole’s memoir showcase Black male vulnerability in racist environments. The tense opening police scene in Get Out shows Chris being racially profiled and demonstrating total compliance to survive these toxic encounters. Cole describes experiences of being stopped by police as a Black man in Toronto, fearing for his life and freedom. The uneasy garden party in Get Out and Cole’s accounts of navigating unwelcoming White spaces display another layer of racism. Peele and Cole reveal how even wealthy and educated Black men face a small awareness of their vulnerability in White spaces.

Both works have a strong link modern racism to the long history of colonialism, slavery and oppression. Cole connects racism in Canada to the historic and ongoing colonization of Indigenous peoples, arguing that anti-black racism stems from the same systems of oppression. Peele also frequently references the legacy of slavery and exploitation of Black peoples in the United States, connecting microaggressions to this history. This shared history persists and continues to burden Black communities today in both countries. The extensive roots of racism inform current stereotypes, prejudice and violence that constrain Black lives.

Through their 2 great timely works, Cole and Peele highlight the dehumanizing experiences that racism inflicts upon Black men daily, while also conveying Black resilience. The racist fixation on their appearance, unsafe environments, and historical oppression show the multiple layers of burden carried by Black men in Canada, and the US and across North America everywhere.

Bibliography
Cole, Desmond. “‘negro frolicks (January).’” The Skin We’re In, Doubleday Canada, 2020, pp. 1–17 Peele, Jordan, et al. Get Out. Universal Pictures, 2017.

The Wolf of Wall Street (Jordan Belfort)

Jordan Belfort, the main character in the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street,” has had a great effect on how people see masculinity in our society, the film made by Martin Scorsese and released in 2013, shows Belfort as a likeable and successful stockbroker who lives the American dream to its fullest. But he is also a very troubled person who is driven by toxic masculinity, which causes a lot of harm to himself and the people around him. 

Belfort’s character is admired by many men who see him as the perfect example of what it means to be a man. Based on what society thinks, he is ideal; he is rich, powerful, and in control. Jordan Belfort is always ready to take chances and show his dominance in the world of Wall Street. However, this way of showing masculinity is more or less bad because it strengthens the idea that men must be aggressive, emotionally distant, and driven by greed and power to be seen as “real men.” 

The movie’s popularity, especially among men, shows that these harmful ideas are still common in our society, young men who watch the movie might want to be like Jordan Belfort which keeps the cycle of toxic masculinity going. 

In “Masculinity as Homophobia,” Michael Kimmel talks about how the perfect idea of masculinity is seen as the complete opposite of femininity. Belfort’s character is a good example of this idea as he has traits that are usually linked with traditional masculinity while rejecting any qualities that are seen as feminine or non-masculine.

In conclusion, “The Wolf of Wall Street” is a movie that has greatly influenced how society sees stereotypical masculinity, thus giving young men another bad example to follow. It is very important to question these toxic ideas and encourage a more inclusive understanding of masculinity that values emotional intelligence, empathy, and respect for all people no matter what gender they are or who they are.

Blog 2: Rethinking Masculinity

Lately, more extremist groups and online communities have been promoting racism, hate against women, and hate against gays. This shows there are big problems with how some men act and think. Michael Kimmel’s essay “Masculinity as Homophobia” says traditional ideas of manhood are tied to homophobia, sexism, and violence. We can see this connection in two recent documentaries we watched. Vice’s Charlottesville: Race and Terror is about the violent white nationalist rally in 2017. The CBC’s Inside Incel looks at the incel movement. Both documentaries show men acting in harmful ways because of bad ideas about manhood.

In both documentaries, young white men show a hyper masculine desire for dominance, aggression, and violence for status and identity. As educator James explained in his recent talk at Vanier College, boys and men often adopt toxic masculine behaviors like bullying and misogyny due to social pressures and online influences. The white nationalists in Charlottesville chant violent, racist slogans at counter protesters. Their actions stem from a sense of threatened masculinity and desire to assert dominance over women and other minority groups. Similarly, in the incel movement comes from men’s entitlement of being rejected romantically or sexually by women. This drives some incels like Alek Minassian to commit deadly violence against women, revealing the disturbing connection between toxic masculinity and extremism.

As Kimmel argues, homophobia is central to traditional norms of masculinity which require men to constantly prove their heterosexuality and distance themselves from any feminine qualities or behaviors. The white nationalists in Charlottesville show deep homophobia in their hyper masculine posturing and attacks on LGBTQ and other different individuals. Homophobia also pervades the incel movement, as incels frequently use homophobic slurs like faggot to belitter any man perceived as weak, over emotional, and/or feminine. This suggests homophobia remains a key component of toxic masculinity today.

Educators like Will James must actively counter these harmful norms by promoting inclusive, compassionate models of masculinity in schools and online spaces. As Kimmel emphasizes, we must challenge the idea that qualities like empathy and respect are inherently feminine and make clear that real men reject violence, racism, misogyny and homophobia. With persistence and courage, we can transform masculinity into a positive force advancing equality, nonviolence and social justice.

In conclusion, the documentaries Charlottesville and Inside Incel show that some men still follow harmful ideas about manhood. They think men must be tough, hate gays, and control women. This causes violence and hate. Teachers should show boys better ways to be men. They can teach that real men show kindness, stand up to bullies, and treat everyone equally. This will help stop extremist groups and make schools and society safer. We must guide boys to become good men who care about people. This will create a world with less hate and more peace.

Kimmel, Michael. Masculinity as Homophobia. 1994.

Charlottesville: Race and Terror. YouTube, Vice News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P54sP0Nlngg&t=5s.

Inside Incel, CBC, The Fifth Estate, 27 Jan. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqWjCHPg9gA.

James, Will, Online Influencers, Toxic Masculinity, and the Classroom, Vanier College,

Blog 1: Masculinity

Masculinity is a difficult topic that is experienced differently by individuals, influenced by external factors and personal expression. The text, “Guy’s Club,” and the short film “Invincible” by Vincent Rene-Lortie shed light on the complexities of masculinity and how the world around us contributes to its perception.

In “Guy’s Club,” Carlos, the protagonist provides insights into his internal experience of masculinity. At a young age, he innocently wanted to paint his nails but was met with ridicule and shame when he went outside. This early encounter with societal judgment confused him, leaving him uncertain about what he had done wrong. Carlos also shares his struggle to conform to societal expectations, feeling the need to enforce his masculinity through physical fitness to please his father. Growing up, he and his friends would berate each other with derogatory terms when vulnerability was shown. These external pressures to adhere to masculine norms deeply affected his sense of self and moral values.

The influence of people in one’s life plays a significant role in shaping their perception of masculinity. Carlos was heavily influenced by his father, society, and societal norms. For instance, when he traveled to Zambia and witnessed a different way of life, he felt uncomfortable due to the influence of his surroundings. This raises the question of whether Carlos would have been different if his environment had been more accepting and if his father had not enforced strict masculinity norms. Society plays a pivotal role in dictating how individuals should act, dress, and feel, leading to judgment, isolation, and bullying if one fails to conform.

Drawing a connection to the character Marc in the film “Invincible,” we see a contrast between his inner kindness, thoughtfulness, and love and his outward display of troubled and careless behavior. The reasons behind this disconnect are unclear, but it suggests that Marc is hiding his true self from the world. Marc finds solace in water, feeling at peace and free, but resorts to risky behaviors when overwhelmed or sad. Perhaps he fears seeking help due to the potential judgment for showing emotions. Interestingly, Marc demonstrates empathy towards another boy in the juvenile center who struggles with vulnerability, possibly seeing his own struggles reflected in him.

Ultimately, the institution strips Marc of the freedom he desires most, leading him to take his own life as a means of escape. Both Marc and Carlos face peer pressure and societal influence. Carlos learns to conform to societal expectations, molding his behavior, love interests, and appearance accordingly. Marc, on the other hand, is unable to seek help and must navigate his challenges alone. These experiences highlight how society imposes notions of masculinity, deeming vulnerability as weakness and prescribing specific behaviors.

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.

René-Lortie, Vincent, director. Invincible, TV5 Unis, 2022, https://www.tv5unis.ca/invincible.