Blog 4: Reflections on Gender Diversity

On April 8th, 2024, a unique phenomenon was observed from Earth. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, the first Indigenous astrophysicist in Canada, explained how the solar total eclipse works. In addition to being an example for the young generation to maintain a connection with their native roots, she is also an example of gender diversity since she hunts even though most hunters are men in Indigenous culture (Canadian Space Agency). Keough and Campbell’s chapter “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period,” the documentary Trans in Trumpland: Idaho, and Indigiqueer artist Glenn Gear’s presentation are also sources that reveal how gender perspectives can differ across societies in shaping identities and roles. The contrasting views of gender between Indigenous and European Colonists serve as examples.

The identity model takes into account the diverse gender perspectives in various societies, including Indigenous culture. Gleen Gear, an Indigiqueer artist, creates art that reflects his connection to his native roots. Through his art, Gear explores his identity as an Inuk. He uses techniques such as collages, sealskin, beadwork, and string games in his projects. For instance, the Iluani/Silami project is a container where the left side shows the past and the right side, the future. The two sides connect in the middle of the container with an eye that reunites the past and the present with animations (Gear). The sounds in the background are waves that remind him of the element of water valued in the Inuk community. Ivaluk Ullugialu is another project that links the Inuit and Settler communities through string games. The two hands might represent the artist’s universe since one of the wrists shows the tattoo of the Inuit community and the other wrist, the tattoo of the Settlers (Gear). The complexity of the string games is also observed in his collages in which dimensions connect. Gear’s works reveal his search for identity and the connection he creates with his native roots.

Gear is not the only one to look at his past to find who he is. Trans in Trumpland: Idaho is a documentary that shows how the life of trans people is in the USA during the Trump elections. Shane is a trans-American military who connects with his native roots to find his gender identity. Shane has adopted the term two-Spirit to describe his identity. According to Keough and Campbell’s chapter “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period,” the colonizers who arrived in the land of the native groups misunderstood the term since different native groups have distinct concepts of what a two-spirit is: “two-spirit […] is an umbrella term that covers a diversity of experiences across indigenous cultures, which themselves have their own conceptual framework and language for describing it” (Keough and Campbell 19).

The contrast of the gender roles reflects the diversity in gender across different societies like Indigenous and European Colonists. Indeed, most Indigenous communities esteem women’s decisions, while in European colonist communities, women are not part of the picture in matters of decisions. For instance, Father Paul Le Jeune from New France attempts to convert the Indigenous people to catholicism. However, his attempt to send the son of a Montagnais father to a Catholic school proved unfruitful since the mother refused. Le Jeune was unfamiliar with a family system other than the religious patrilineal system he knowns from European Colonists “in which the husband/father (fashioned in the image of God the Father) was the firm but gentle shepherd of the subordinate wife and children who were to obey him in all worldly matters” (Keough and Campbell 21). The family system of Indigenous people is mostly matrilineal, whereas the family system of European Colonists is patrilineal.
Besides women’s decisions being valued in Indigenous families, women’s position in a hierarchy is more egalitarian than in European Colonists. In the European Colonists’ social hierarchy, women, including the few women of elite ranks in France, are down the ladder because they “[are] perceived as subordinate to men of the same rank” (Keough and Campbell 21). On the other hand, the distribution of power in the Innu community between men and women is equal in the sexual labour division: “Innu men hunted larger game, especially caribou; Innu women fished and trapped small game, while their gathering activities provided more than half the community’s food supply” (Keough and Campbell 17). Due to the harsh conditions of life, Indigenous people need to work together and not neglect the contribution of women in order for the community to survive. The women’s role is seen as essential in the Indigenous culture versus European Colonists which diminishes the women because their social system is mostly based on masculine dominance.

Besides women’s decisions being valued in Indigenous families, women’s position in a hierarchy is more egalitarian than in European Colonists. In the European Colonists’ social hierarchy, women, including the few women of elite ranks in France, are down the ladder because they “[are] perceived as subordinate to men of the same rank” (Keough and Campbell 21). On the other hand, the distribution of power in the Innu community between men and women is equal in the sexual labour division: “Innu men hunted larger game, especially caribou; Innu women fished and trapped small game, while their gathering activities provided more than half the community’s food supply” (Keough and Campbell 17). Due to the harsh conditions of life, Indigenous people need to work together and not neglect the contribution of women in order for the community to survive. The women’s role is seen as essential in the Indigenous culture versus European Colonists which diminishes the women because their social system is mostly based on masculine dominance.

To conclude, the different world views on the gender of Indigenous and European Colonists demonstrate that there is no single concept of what gender is. Gender influences identity, resulting in diverse perspectives and identities among individuals. The Indigenous culture has a concept called two-spirit, which diversely explores gender identity. The distribution of roles according to gender differs between Indigenous and European communities since their family system and social hierarchies are different. Although Indigenous people have faced the harmful effects of colonization by European Colonists, their culture has remained resilient. Indigenous culture as a guiding light inspires a more inclusive society with more egalitarian gender relations. 

Works Cited

Canadian Space Agency. “Laurie Rousseau-Nepton.” Canadian Space Agency, / Gouvernement du Canada, 15 Sept. 2021, http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/jobs/employee-and-partner-profiles/laurie-rousseau-nepton.asp.  Accessed 12 Apr. 2024

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

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 

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

Blog 3: Reflections on “The Skin We’re In”

The death of George Floyd became a symbol of the social movement Black Lives Matter.  His death screams out the difficulties that black people can face every day. Nowadays, racial injustice is more discussed in social media, books and movies. Desmond Cole’s memoir The Skin We’re In and Jordan Peele’s film Get Out expose the harmful psychological effects of a dominant White culture found in Canada and the USA on black people. The harmful effects of a dominant White culture on black people are evident in the intimidation, the assimilation and the eradication they are subject to.

The experiences described by Cole and Peele reflect the intimidation that black men are subject to when interacting with a dominant White culture in Canadian and American society. Indeed, White supremacist ideology instills fear in its victims by psychological manipulation. In Cole’s memoir, John Samuels, owner of an art gallery in Toronto, affirms that police patrols continuously watching over him triggered him. The main character of Get Out similarly experiences anxiety and fear. After Chris arrives at the house of the Armitage, Chris loses his inner peace because of the surveillance he is subject to. One night, Chris wakes up after a nightmare and turns the lion doll to not see its eyes. Chris can feel that he is being watched even from the eyes of the doll. He is, in fact, alert to every single detail that may reveal danger to his safety. Outside of the movie, Cole and many black people can identify themselves with what Chris is going through. As a student at Queen’s University in Ontario, Cole remembers when white police officers asked him to identify himself in the night. Another example in real life is John struggling a lot more than white art gallery owners to get a license to serve alcoholic beverages in his art gallery. The cops who suspected John interrupted the New Year’s Eve celebration in his art gallery and attacked him with excessive violence. Likewise, Chris suspects weird events that make him anxious for his safety: his phone is always being unplugged, a black man running into him as if he was going to attack him during the night, and a black waitress strangely caressing her face in the same night. Thus, the primitive instincts of fear of John and Samuels both express that White supremacist ideology successfully scares its victims. Black people become hypervigilant in anticipating the danger coming from the intimidation of White supremacy. In addition in our society, instead of admitting White supremacy as the bully, it blames its victims. Cole claims that “[when] confronted with its own violence, whiteness simply flips the script.” (COLE p.9) Likewise, in Peele’s movie, Rose makes Chris feel bad for leaving her alone whereas he expresses that he feels in danger. The character of Rose illustrates that “White supremacy keeps stepping on your toes while insisting it was an accident” because she disavows her boyfriend’s thoughts about his safety (COLE 9). Rose ridicules the thoughts of Chris because she does not want Chris to discover her family’s intentions against black people. In other words, “Whiteness pretends to forget its own names when called, and refuses to acknowledge its desire for dominance” (COLE 9). Thus, black men are always the victims and losers of a game that does not define White supremacy as the bully. 

The experiences described by Cole and Peele reflect the assimilation that black men are subject to when interacting with a dominant White culture in Canadian and American society. Indeed, white culture leads black people to integrate their values, customs and lifestyle. Cole affirms that Canadian institutions are also guilty when they colonized and assimilated Indigenous people. Remember Indigenous children were taken from their homes, culture, and families by Canadian authorities and put in orphanages to assimilate them into white culture. Nowadays, assimilation can be seen as the American dream that many immigrants try to approach. They leave their heritage to integrate American and Canadian culture by learning the country’s language, listening to American artists in music, and watching American movies. For instance, the garden party at the Armitage’s house is a typical auction of Western Culture. During the meeting with Elisa and Nielson, Elisa touches Chris’ body to test if the product she will buy, his body, is of good quality. The garden party and bingo scene reveal that, according to white supremacy, black people are seen as objects to be sold to white masters. Another characteristic of American culture demonstrated in this segment is the focus on appearance. White supremacy only cares about the exterior because its ideology is based on the image of people. Elisa and Pariskin are perfect examples of white people who immediately define black people according to stereotypes. Elisa asks “Is [the stereotype of black men] true? Is [the sex with black men] better?” Pariskin comments on how Chris’skin is in fashion. As can be noticed in these comments, stereotypes about race portray black people and denigrate them based on their image. This ideology where blacks are underestimated is also affirmed by Cole: “[…] white supremacy designates black people as less than a full human being, as disposable labor” (COLE 8). As can be seen in the movie and the memoir, the dominant White culture wants to blend into the mind that people with a skin colour other than theirs are inferior to whites and should work for white masters. In addition, whiteness ideology assimilates black people through the American culture. Chris finds another person similar to him at the garden party, Chris becomes emotional and confesses to this black guy that he feels better with his company. However, the black guy treats Chris coldly and gives a formal handshake instead of a fist bump. Compared to Chris’ best friend, this black guy adopted white manners. He speaks and dresses differently. Chris understands that the black guy has been hypnotized, in other words, assimilated into the white culture.

The experiences described by Cole and Peele reflect the eradication that black men are subject to when interacting with a dominant White culture in Canadian and American society. Indeed, the genocide of Indigenous people mentioned in Cole’s work is compared to the genocide of black people in Peele’s movie. “White supremacy, which informs and fuels anti-black racism, is an insatiable force.” Both genocides come from an insatiable force that can be demonstrated in one scene of Peele’s movies. For instance, when Chris discovers the dark secret of the Armitage family which represents White supremacy, he finds out that all black men who arrived in this house were in danger. In a closet, he discovers an album of pictures of his girlfriend with many other black boyfriends and girlfriends. He learns that Rose traps any black person to fall in love with her so that her family can dispose of them. The surgery that the neurologist’s father does represents the act of extirpation because the surgery removes the brain of the black person. The Armitage family is greedy and has an intense desire that is never satisfied with the black slaves it possesses. As an example, White supremacy does not only conquer black slaves, but also Indigenous people. Cole recalls that historically White supremacy did not bother to kill Indigenous people to conquer the land: “[To] maintain its stolen land, the government is engaged in an ongoing, centuries-long genocide of Indigenous people” (COLE 8). The eradication of Indigenous people is similar to black people since both racial killings are a result of the greed for power in a dominant White culture. Moreover, the extermination that black men experience can be understood as being placed in an inferior position in the hierarchy of a White supremacist ideology. As an example, Rose’s mom hypnosis Chris without his consent. Then, she forces Chris to sink into the floor against his will. Rose’s mom represents the White supremacist ideology which does not recognize black people as humans who deserve respect and have rights. She keeps turning the spoon inside her teacup as if she is innocently having a typical conversation with the boyfriend of her daughter. However, the background of this scene demonstrates that White supremacist ideology eliminates black people since it does not value them as humans. The public in Peele’s film can palpate how whiteness is dominating black people in the section where Rose’s mom eliminates Chris’will. In the Sunken place, there is such a big contrast in the positions between Chris and Rose’s mom. This part is similar to the image of a ladder that Cole mentions because Rose’s mom is at the top of the ladder and black people like Chris are not even on the ladder. According to the memoir and film, White supremacy underestimates black people which can be illustrated as the massacre of them.

To conclude, The Skin We’re In and Get Out reveal that the dominant white culture in Canadian and American society psychologically harms black individuals. These last ones are subject to intimidation because white culture creates an environment where black people live in fear and are guilty even though they are innocent. They are also subject to eradication since the whiteness in power massively kills them and dominates them which is another way of killing. Lastly, black people are subject to assimilation because they are seen as less than humans. Desmond Cole and Jordan Peele’s work both reflect on white supremacy ideology which has a nefast effect on how people separate from each other and harm others. However, this whole ideology is an accomplice of a default of Western society: focusing on appearance like the colour of skin for instance, instead of the person itself.

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.

Dance with “Macho Man”

“Macho Man” from the Village People

“Macho Man” suggests guys identify with the perfect model of a man in society through the masculine body’s expectations. “The body always in demand” represents the body that society expects from a man. Appearance is the main focus in the song and the video clip as if a man would only be defined by his appearance.

The body language of the dancers demonstrates their irresistible physical traits as men. They touch their bodies as if their bodies were merchandise. The song represents the stereotype of the perfect model of masculinity: “Every man wants to be a macho man to have the kind of body always in demand.” Failing to have an ideal body can lead males to doubt about their self-esteem in a negative way. Since body shaping takes time and discipline, guys can be frustrated, annoyed and guilty for not fitting into society’s expectations. The efforts to aspire to the ideal body are seen in the video clip with “joggin’ in the mornings, workouts in the health spa, muscles grow,” and lifts of weights. The lyrics and the images give the illusion that if they aspire to match the characteristics of a macho body, then they will see themselves as irresistible divines like Hercules. “Baby, it’s too much, my body,” claims that the man thinks his body is so hot that no girl can resist him.

The dancers show such confidence in their moves because they assume that their bodies are worthy of admiration: “Body, don’t you tease my body, body, you’ll adore my body, body, come explore my body.” Individuals’ self-perceptions can be damaged by a wrong vision of masculinity demonstrated in the song because the macho man’s body stereotype is constructed on a restricted identity of a man’s body. Ideals about the body are impossible and unrealistic to achieve because these are from opinions that always change from century and person.

“Macho Man” suggests guys identify with the perfect model of a man in society through a masculine behaviour. The lyrics describe the stereotype of a man being though. At the “Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey” part of the song, the dancers punch like boxers. The example of boxing movements demonstrates a physical aggressiveness image representing the toughness encouraged by traditional masculinity. Also, the definition of a macho man, according to society’s expectations, is someone who has power. As a result, another stereotype dictating the behaviour of men is to be a leader: “Always look so boss, he’s a king.” Men are supposed to have a job that reflects their power. The song seems like a subliminal message that enters the mind of guys and insists on “I gotta be a macho.”

As can be seen in the video clip, one of the dancers was either a builder, police officer, cowboy, or soldier. All these “traditional masculine” jobs are assigned to men because these jobs give the status “you can best believe that, he’s a macho man.” The harmful part of the behaviour encouraging the stereotype of being powerful is to think that you are superior and have the tendency to discriminate others. When the ego takes all the place in relationships, people tend to be unrespectable and forget their values. Relationships and environment can become toxic. Moreover, the lyrics create the illusion that “every man ought to be a macho, macho man to live a life of freedom.” This last sentence from the lyrics suggests men must follow masculine norms to have the privilege of freedom. However, men are already prisoners of the stereotype “macho man” with so many manhood norms.

Blog 2: Rethinking Masculinity

In Western sociocultural, boys and men are susceptible to conceiving toxic masculinity that can be seen in extreme behaviours shown in the documentaries Charlottesville: Race and Terror and Inside Incel.  Males can perceive a toxic distorted idea of masculinity in part because of the fear and the violent reaction that comes with it when their masculinity is threatened.

According to Kimmel’s essay, the fear of humiliation pushes boys and men to toxic masculinity seen as extreme behaviours. Indeed, Kimmel defines well how the interaction of social and cultural elements urges men to appear without fear: “Fear makes us ashamed, because the recognition of fear in ourselves is proof to ourselves that we are not as manly as we pretend […]” (KIMMEL 147). Society insists on meeting masculinity’s rules to avoid being humiliated. As Kimmel explained, boys and men wear masks to create the illusion that they are capable of being the perfect masculine model. However, when their masculinity is in danger, fear, as a primitive instinct, naturally emerges. For instance, Kimmel asked his classes how to determine if a man is homosexual, and most of the answers to this question revealed that males try to suppress the fear of being associated with unmanly characteristics: “Never dress that way. Never talk or walk that way. Never show your feelings or get emotional. Always be prepared to demonstrate sexual interest in women that you meet, so it is impossible for any woman to get the wrong idea about you” (KIMMEL 148). As can be noticed in these statements, the repetition of “never” shows that manhood norms must be extreme to prove enough their masculinity. The answers of Kimmel’s students demonstrate that masculinity can be unhealthy because insecurities invade the image of themselves: “As young men we are constantly riding those gender boundaries, checking the fences we have constructed on the perimeter, making sure that nothing even remotely feminine might show through. The possibilities of being unmasked are everywhere…” (KIMMEL 148). According to the definition of masculinity in Western culture, men can either incarnate the image of the ideal man or be humiliated. Furthermore, this definition can cause frustration and fear inside men who compare themselves to what society desires to see. As Ross Handler, a professor specializing in deviance and youth sub-culture, affirms some individuals search for support in online communities because they might have fail to attain thos perfect image of man. Incel members are validated when they contribute to unhealthy masculinity by asserting their dominance and suppressing their fear. As Kimmel claims, boys and men have this pressure to suppress their emotions to disappear their vulnerability. According to Incel’s ideology, having anti-feminist behaviour and using violence reflect their hypermasculinity. Again, men who conform to toxic masculinity are much more likely to engage in violence against women.

According to Kimmel’s perspective, a distorted image of masculinity encourages the use of violence as seen in the documentaries Charlottesville: Race and Terror and Inside Incel. Indeed, Unite the Right wants to prove to the world how powerful they are through their violence. In McIntire Park, Elle Reeve representing Vice News and Christopher Cantwell discussed Unite the Right’s ideology, an online group. Cantwell representing a white nationalist speaker of Unite The Right said “[of] course, we are capable” of unveiling our power. “I’m carrying a pistol; I go to the gym all the time. I’m trying to make myself more capable of violence.” Unite The Right’s ideology appeals to violence just like Incel does because violence proves your masculinity. Men failing to achieve manhood rules are submitted in both groups to do terrible actions such as hurting and killing others. As a result, these groups integrate a toxic principle of masculinity that validates physical toughness, and physical aggression. Before Minissian’s attack, this Incel member posted a message celebrating Eliot Rodger’s perspective. All Incel members are illusioned with the excitement to regain power after being treated unfairly by a feminist culture that does not value them. They show to the world who is “the truth alpha male” as Rodger pleaded. Anyone who follows one of the most inaccurate manhood rules, being violent, is seen as a hero in both communities. After Minissian’s attack with his white van on April 23rd, 2023 in North Toronto, a song created by a YouTuber and video gamer named Egg White was dedicated to inspire other members to glorify violence. In both documentaries, these groups carry on their actions toxic masculinity traits: detach from emotions, be tough and dominate others.  For instance, in the documentary Charlottesville: Race and Terror, one of the members of Unite the Right did not hesitate to drive a car into the crowd. Kimmel’s point is illustrated in these examples seen in the documentaries because manhood dominates their minds and feelings. Kimmel explains that toxic masculinity leads boys and men to always protect their dignity by showing characteristics of manhood from Western socioculture. If they don’t fit in society, fear installs inside themselves and troubles their dignity. Kimmel made a bet with a friend that if he goes into any American playground and asks six-year-old boys who is a sissy, he can prove that distorted masculinity leads males to defend masculine masks. Kimmel described how young boys are conditioned to react to situations that threaten their sense of dignity. In many cases, if they don’t adhere to the traditional rules of manhood, they feel compelled to resort to violent or overly masculine behaviours in order to gain respect from others and themselves. Most individuals like young boys are unconscious that they let society’s expectations influence them. When James was presenting toxic masculinity in the auditorium, it was difficult for students to wrap their heads around a subject that brought many unclear feelings. People generally tend to avoid discussions where they can be pointed out in their vulnerabilities. Indeed, no one likes to feel vulnerable in the eyes of others.

According to Charlottesville: Race and Terror, Inside Incel, Masculinity as Homophobia and “Online Influencers, Toxic Masculinity, and the Classroom,” manhood has always encouraged boys and men to fit in a principle of masculinity that damages everyone. Some individuals cope with the fear of protecting their masculinity by resorting to violence. If boys and men fail to conform to the traditional masculinity definition, then they must be put back on track by using violence against themselves and others. Unfortunately, it has been a recurring issue throughout history. Yet, society still fails to learn from his past mistakes. We tend to swing from one extreme to another without finding a balance. There is a lack of education that men just as women are allowed to have feelings. Thus, society should recognize that vulnerability composes the identity of men because vulnerability defines human beings.

Bibliography:

Kimmel, Michael. Masculinity as Homophobia. 1994.
Charlottesville: Race and Terror. YouTube, Vice News, 14 Aug. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P54sP0Nlngg&t=5s. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022.

Inside Incel, CBC, The Fifth Estate, 27 Jan. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqWjCHPg9gA. Accessed 25 Sept. 2023.

James, Will, Online Influencers, Toxic Masculinity, and the Classroom, Vanier College, March 5, 2024

Blog 1: Reflection on masculinity…

In the text by Carlos Andres Gomez and the short film Invincible, masculinity is demonstrated through the internal and external reactions of the characters to the events during their youth.

Gomez explains his point of view on the code of manhood by sharing his experiences as a boy transforming into a man. At six years old, his first lesson about the subject was getting his fingernails painted like his aunt and sister. Gomez’s aunt painted his nails after telling him he would learn the hard way. In her advertisement, she implicitly tells Gomez that he will learn the “silent rules for a man to be in order.” Just before entering the team for a soccer game, his painted fingernails attract harmful attention because insults about his appearance bombard him. In fact, the problem is not his fingernails painted, but the meaning of his action: To not be what society imposes on guys. His aunt, representing the authority, did not delve deeper into analyzing the consequences of societal norms with her nephew. It’s unfortunate that the young boy in question wasn’t given the opportunity to learn the proper way to behave through positive reinforcement. Instead, his aunt allowed society to be the teacher on such an important matter, which may have hindered his growth and development. Society resorted to using brutality as a means to teach him. As a result, not only did he become a victim, but everyone who judged him also unwittingly reinforced harmful societal norms. The humiliation he experienced was a prime example of how society teaches young boys to blindly integrate these norms into their daily lives. In both the text and the movie, certain barriers cannot be crossed by men, as indicated by the reactions of those close to the main characters. Sadly, society tends to confine individuals by instilling fear of judgement, thereby imposing an unattainable standard of conduct, such as the traditional code of manhood, as a guideline for life.

Likewise, Marc, the main character of the short movie Invincible, experiences the fear of judgment when he confronts society’s norms of manhood. Indeed, while sharing his feelings with his classmates at the youth center via a poem, the movie scene focuses on his tormented face because it demonstrates how societal norms force individuals to remove the sensitive elements that define the beauty of humans. Another example is Marc suffocating in the hotness of the youth center after leaving his family. The issue is not that the fan does not work, which annoys him and makes him punch it. His reaction to feeling imprisoned in a hot room indicates how prisoner he is. Without a doubt, Gomez and Marc are feeling oppressed by the heaviness of being strong enough to keep up with all the manhood rules. For instance, Gomez struggled to meet society’s norms because he did not agree to use the “three words men must have in their vocabulary” to be approved by society as someone who is enough. Since he was a child, he has been expected to distance himself from anything defined as not masculine. When he returned from the Palazzo gay club, he was scared that his parent would associate him as gay. Let’s come back to his first lesson: he was bullied just at first glance because people perceived him as not usual, defined him as inappropriate, judged him and finally insulted him with one of the three words. Meeting these rules is like forcing fire and water to oppose themselves. Invincible wisely uses these two forces of nature to manifest the constant fight inside Marc. All societal norms, including masculinity, can create an inner struggle between striving for masculinity ideals or feeling inadequate, in this case.

The movie Invincible points out how masculinity forms internal struggles because the masculinity model is unrealistic. In the beginning, when Marc’s family leaves the chalet, Marc reassures his sister, who is crying, by putting his hand on a lightning fire without showing any pain. This movie scene illustrates that defying a natural force such as fire is an illusion just like being a man according to society. Amazed by this trick, his sister tells him to stop because she cares about his hand. In the end, while Marc drives a stolen car, the movie makes a parallel scene between the siblings. His sister’s face expresses what Marc is trying to oppress while he is driving, and every time he has to reinforce his masculinity. When she attempted her brother’s magic trick, she gained a deeper understanding of the pain he endures from suppressing his suffering. She realized the immense inner strength it must take for Marc to constantly seek approval from others to be seen as a man. Gomez and Marc are both subject to the judgement of others molded by manhood. Therefore, as children, they are shaped by the norms and rules that surround them. It’s important to remember that words and actions can have a profound impact on young minds.