Beyond the binary

Indigenous views enter a realm where gender transcends boundaries and different binaries. It offers a profound perspective on gender fluidity shaped by cultural norms, spirituality and traditions. Through residential schools and the Canadian government’s attempt at assimilating native peoples, it would be hard to imagine a world without their influence. Yet that too seems slightly impossible now that we will begin to understand how the influence of indigenous peoples impacts the modern world we live in today. Exploring self-expression through the lens of indigenous societies in “The Dawn of Everything” we can see its original impact and how it could impact Glenn Gears and Shane Ortega through their experiences of indigenous self-expression. I will be exploring how indigenous cultures defied gender norms the European settlers had contrasting them and their ongoing impact on modern society. In this blog, I will be discussing how gender and cultural diversity in the early contact period allowed people like Glenn and Shane to start exploring their individuality and identity.

Before we try and dissect how Shane and Glenn found their identities we must examine the footprint that allowed them to explore that path. David Wengrow and David Graber make it extremely clear that there was no inequality between men and women among the indigenous communities the settlers were in contact with. This concept is important to understand as it is the basis of one of the main differences in comparison to the Europeans. Although indigenous men and women were assigned different tasks none of them were assigned based on gender, marital duties or cultural expectations. Things like caring for children was equally seen as a man’s task in native society as it was for a woman; completely contrasting the assigned gender roles of the settlers which would entail a woman’s job is primarily to raise the children. This was one of many shocks the settlers would face, the next being the rejection of paternalism. In Europe, paternalism was the adopted “culture”. It was because of a man’s power and more relevant place in society that he was the centre of the household. Potentially men of high status had a power trip and that is why paternalism was the only acceptable thing. High-ranking men in the church and government possess positions of power which felt as if it was a man’s job to be the centre of the household because a man is traditionally strong and typically the breadwinner. Suggesting that it could never be a woman’s place to be a breadwinner or uphold a family. ironically when under the settlers mentality, the women would quite literally make sure the family was upheld. Contrary to the indigenous groups met by these settlers who were predominantly matrilineal. Indigenous societies were able to equally value important women who led the clans all while equally distributing power to the men. Them being matrilineal did not take away from the men in their society, unlike the patrilineal ways of the Europeans which assigned clear and lesser gender roles to the women. The importance of “The Dawn of Everything” is the rejection of not only gender roles but more Western binaries. “One of the key ways that difference has often been delineated is gender.” (Keough 17). So in broader terms, the main difference between the two is how they both perceive gender. The Europeans see it as definitive of an individual’s place socially and politically, whereas the First Nations see it as more of an identity instead of an assigned role by society. Having the latter point of view allows native people to explore their individuality and be somewhat genderfluid. With this area of self-expression, some native people consider themselves two-spirit.

Shane Ortega was kicked out of the US military after starting his transition during Trump’s 2016 election. Shane also identifies as two-spirit. Being two-spirit for Shane meant that he was fluid within his own identity. Two-spirit is an umbrella term for native LGBTQ+ people who are both masculine and feminine. Being indigenous allowed Shane to discover his heritage and allow himself to heal his traumas through spiritual practices such as the sun dance he demonstrated during the documentary. Shane deeply expresses that he feels the decolonization of America is linked to the deterioration of his rights as a trans person. Before settlers came to America there was a place for trans people within society. way back when Shane explained that being trans was seen as sacred and the artwork of a Sioux warrior with a trans woman was seen as normal. In the very beginning of the documentary where we met Shane talks about awareness within the indigenous community and decolonisation. He brings up remembering how there are as indigenous people in their respective areas. He mentions how no matter which political party anyone takes place in, even if advocating for a more liberal party that would accept various identities, they are both representations of colonisation for those who are indigenous. Shane explains that no matter what government takes over America it’s a force that forcefully took this land from native people in 1492. It makes no difference whether it is Trump or Trudeau in the eyes of indigenous peoples because it was always their land yet their rights and cultures have been continuously repressed by the consequences of colonisation.

Sometime after colonisation when the settlers decided they no longer felt inspired by indigenous ideas but rather threatened, the Canadian government attempted to assimilate all indigenous children through residential schools. Children were stripped from their parents at a young age, forced to cut their hair which was sacred and punished for speaking their mother tongue. Not to mention all the sexual, physical and mental abuse these children faced. Residential schools to this day have generational impacts on those who come after, like Glenn Gears. He shared during his presentation that his mother was of Irish descent but his indigenous father faced the horrors of residential schools. For reasons his father most likely did not know his family and felt extreme trauma when asked about his culture so consequently Glenn never grew to learn about his heritage. Because cultural expression was not possible for Glen generationally, the little he did learn in the years to come Glenn expresses his identity as indigi-queer through art. His art is a reflection of his learning to navigate his newfound identity through self-expression in art. The pieces he created allowed him to visit family and reconnect with his native roots which were forcibly detached from his earlier life. Through these works, he can learn more about himself and his culture allowing him to explore his self-expression through indigenous societies.

By beginning to understand the First Nations outlook on gender and cultural diversity we can understand the core ideas that allow individuals within the indigenous community to explore self-expression. People like Shane Ortega and Glenn Gears are a reflection of the initial indigenous people’s mindset when the settlers first arrived. By understanding the original societies, we see how their mindset is formative for those who came after even in the modern world. So conclusively, there are many examples discussed earlier in this blog that elaborate on the impact of indigenous societies that are still felt. Culturally there are still so many people connected. Spiritually it is still there within indigenous communities. But most importantly it is still of major influence when exploring self-expression through the lens of indigenous values.

Bibliography:

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.

Windows into the black experience

Understanding the lives of individuals living in marginalised bodies poses a challenge for those who do not share their experiences. Yet, the narratives of figures like Desmond Cole and Jordan Peele provide windows into these experiences. As a white woman, I acknowledge my inability to fully grasp the black experience, but I can empathise and draw parallels from my own encounters with marginalisation as a woman whose body can disrupt spaces. Cole and Peele navigate spaces full of prejudices and ingrained racism, shedding light on the complexities of black identity. I will be exploring the parallels between fictional black masculinities and contemporary masculinities. While Peel employs allegory in his storytelling and Cole opts for testimony, both offer insights into black masculinities through diverse points of view. In this essay, I will dive into the contemporary, historical, and social lenses through which black masculinities are perceived.

Through the contemporary lense we notice that cultural appropriation and white washing are prevalent in both works’ descriptions of the black experience. These issues involve appropriating marginalised cultures by the more dominant groups in society; often leading to assimilation or misrepresentation of many cultures. Both Cole and Peel mention through their projects how black traits and cultures are being used but without wanting to be associated with its cultural roots. Cole states, “I began to associate my blackness with shame and isolation as early as primary school. I started to wish I had been born black” (Cole 15). Cole at a young age began to feel ashamed probably due to how society around him began to perceive his black identity from a young age. Tying his marginalised body with negative stereotypes and assumptions even before he probably learned about them. Being white or paler might have been the expectation or the beauty standard around the time when Cole was growing up and it reinforces the idea that it’s fashionable to but only if you’re not too dark. As well as young girls wanting to bleach their skin in order to be less black even within African culture this is practised because being too dark isn’t seen as beautiful. So it’s a generational trauma that bleeds into beauty standards. As for the scene where Chris is having a conversation about sports with Rose’s brother, by the end of it we begin to understand that he is being idolised because of the stereotype of a black man’s athletic capabilities. As well as during the yearly bingo game one of the players crosses a boundary and makes an inappropriate comment directed to Chris. She starts by squeezing his biceps and then asking Rose “So is it true, is it better?”(Peel 1:00:35). Inappropriate comments like these show us how the black experience can often be full of uncomfortable conversations based off of stereotypes and prejudices but also the lack of respect for black people as humans. We notice that that’s only a boundary that is crossed with Chris in the film and not any other party-goers. Although the subject of white washing might not be direct I think it’s definitely alluded to within the film.  In a straightforward way we see how when they take a black person’s brain and insert it into a white person. We notice that they’re underneath the surface but not able to come out. This happens on many occasions. For example when Georgina breaks down and starts to cry saying “no no no no” (Peel 50:45), her initial self is still there but not able to come out . Same for the man who lashed out due to the flash screaming “get out get out”(Peel 48:19), he himself the black man is still conscious but incapable to come out from beneath the surface of what is now the white identity. So in larger terms their black identity and what makes them them is being repressed underneath the identity of a white person. The reason for which Chris keeps mentioning how “it’s the black people out here too, its like all of them missed the movement”(Peel 52:44).Despite Peel expressing his experience as a marginalised black man through fiction it still touches on real issues that Cole spends chapters retelling.Through allegorical elements, Peele portrays the repression of black identity within a white-dominated society, exemplified by characters trapped in the “sunken place.” The sunken place is a metaphor for marginalisation; no matter how hard you scream you will always be silenced by the system.

As of 1861 slavery was abolished however the repercussions still followed black people into the contemporary world today. Desmond Cole touches on the historical past of Canada and Jordan peel also reflects on how it follows his character’s black identity in the film. Cole speaks on the over policing of black people in Toronto. He says in his novel “you can’t as people who have been oppressed their whole lives forget that and ignore the fact that it might happen again” (Cole 2). He brings up a relevant point because this statement continues to be the situation for many  people of colour (POC). They are continuously advocating for their rights because there is always a leftover sentiment of what if. What if tomorrow my rights are stripped from me again. One protest will not affirm their security especially in metropolises where there is a high immigration rate. Despite being numerous, systematic racism is ingrained into the system in favour of white politicians. Cole talks about how hashtag movements are only the tip of the iceberg and although he is grateful for the media attention it gets it is not enough for POC to put their guard down. Minorities are in a constant fight that history will repeat itself and have them in similar positions their ancestors were in decades before. It is beyond generational trauma that causes POC to continually fight and advocate for themselves because tomorrow is not promised. Cole acknowledges in his book that the modern political and judicial system is not made in favour of people like him and recurring accidents force minorities to continually fight for their place in society in order to be treated humanely. Although Jordan Peel doesn’t attack this subject as directly he doesn’t fail to incorporate it into his films. During “Get Out” the scene features Chris Washington’s psychological preparation for surgery. In order for him to evade being hypnotised by the tea cup he claws at the arms of the armchair and must physically pick the cotton from it in order to block his ears. This is relevant because during slavery many black people in the southern parts of the states were forced into upkeeping cotton fields. It’s a very labour intensive action. In order to harvest the cotton you must pick at the stem of the plant which left many slaves with blisters due to repetitive action. The irony here is that Chris had to physically pick the cotton in order to save his life and evade the “white man”. In essence Chris a modern man is in a vicious cycle and is back to where his ancestors were; a place they fought so that future generations will never be there.Peel here left this Easter egg in order to affirm viewers’ understanding of not only the contemporary and social contexts of the film but also its historical inclination from the black perspective. I feel that in terms of production Peel had to force his directional views into that detail to make sure that viewers don’t miss the core ideas of the film because when watching it the first time the contemporary ideas can easily go over your head.

It’s important to note that although Cole and Peel have different lives we can understand through their artistic projects the social connection they share. As well as how they allow us to compare their shared experiences as black men and the collective resilience, historical oppression and systematic challenges they face. Cole’s book retells his experiences as a black man more realistically and in a more contemporary point of view. As for Peel who treats “Get Out” as an allegory for what it is to experience blackness. Although they take on black identities through different lenses we can connect both creators’ social experiences as black men. Peel early in the film has his character Chris say “do they know im black”(Peel 1:36:55). And this opens the difficult conversations that need to be had within interracial relationships. It’s a valid point because he later states “I dont want to get chased off the lawn with a shotgun.”(Peel 1:36:17) and this taps into how he as a black man assumes he will be perceived by her parents. This assumption is not random; he probably made the connection based on his past experiences meeting white folk and encountering stereotypes. Cole shares the experience of his friend John who “ applied for a liquor licence for gallery events , the police found further excuses to harass him” (Cole 5). Cole shares this story because it expands on not only his personal experience but how other black people are treated and undermined by authorities. It brings in the topic of over-policing black people, especially black men. This experience ties into the “Get Out” scene where Rose interacts with law enforcement regarding the accident and the officer asks for Christophers registration and identification as well. Rose defends that he is unimportant to the situation and how asking for his ID because he’s black is inappropriate and frankly an abuse of his power due to prejudices he has. Connected to this scene Cole quotes a tweet saying “POLICE BRUTALITY IS FUCKING REAL AND DONT YOU EVER TELL ME ITS AN AMERICAN THING.” (Cole 5). So through both films we can begin to understand the shared experiences black people and minorities encounter when dealing with law enforcement and struggling to be seen as more than just their skin colour but as equal individuals. Both works intertwine when discussing the social connections in black identities to matter how it is portrayed; though both the works of Jordan Peel and Desmond Cole.

In confronting contemporary views of black identities, the generational impact of slavery and the social connections of black identities, we can only strive for humanity. When further analysing Desmond Cole’s book and Jordan Peel’s film “Get Out” we notice that even though their stories and messages are shared differently we can see the many parallels between fictional black masculinities and more contemporary black masculinities.While Cole confronts hate directed at marginalised bodies directly, Peele illustrates the silencing of voices within a system that perpetuates marginalisation. The experiences of these marginalised bodies intertwine with one another and are both an allegory into the deeper experience on what it is to be a black identity in society today.These narratives serve as allegories for the broader experiences of black individuals in society today, reflecting on the resilience and complexities of black identity.

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.

Exploring the link between incel ideology and extremism

Dalia Tatta

A woman’s place has always been chosen by a man. Her place has always been clear, and inferior until the 20th century, or so we thought. When further examining incel’s beliefs and behaviours as well as the qualities possessed by Charlottesville protesters; we begin to notice the extreme extent they will go to to radicalize these violent behaviours. With the help of Kimmel’s essay, Will James’ speech and both documentaries, I will be examining how the shared beliefs between incels and white supremacists stem from the idea that men use violence in situations where they feel powerless. We illuminate their responsibility for online radicalization of creating violent ideologies. We can further examine this degrading behaviour through interviews with participants, analysis of the documentaries and by examining the online forums used. These equally connect themselves in perspective to Kimmel’s paper and how men are not allowed to be “sissies”.

When interviewing both incels and white supremacy communities we begin to understand that their violent “male” mindset is adopted due to fear of not being man enough. We learn their motivations and how they perceive others. This illuminates the thin line that intersects the similarities and likeness of inceldom and white supremacy. This can be explained by the shared fear of both communities. For incels, their hatred of towards women can be explained by their fear of rejection. This fear of rejection and involuntarily being celibate over time causes them to adopt violent behaviours towards women. In the case of Alex Minassian, he had no one to talk to about this rejection. This lead him to find incel communities online which fueled his hatred for women and fed into the violent ideology brewing in him. Christopher Cantwell, the man the Charlottesville documentary, mainly followed shows that his hatred deeply stems from fear and the need to physically overpower others. When in his hotel room he shows all his guns and knives proudly to spread fear to others. While this is just a projection of his fears of not being man enough or strong enough. Again Cantwell stating he’s not afraid to use them is a desperate attempt to seem powerful as a man should, but when further analyzing him we understand it is a mask of fear. Kimmel develops this idea throughout his text, using examples similar to Chantwell, who feels the need to present themselves as physically powerful. “Manhood is equated with power over women, over other men.”. (Kimmel 49). These two case studies are deeply connected as their ideas of what being a man is is deeply connected to power. Being in power or having power and control over situations allows them to feel manly. Their testimonies allow us to understand why their perception of people of colour and women makes them fear that they no longer have control over their lives and that they inevitably can’t control their environment.

      By highlighting the roles of these ideologies, we understand how they are contributing factors to the mobilization of acts of violence and extremism due to powerlessness. When examining the sources spoken to in the documentary, we begin to reveal how this convergence to incel ideology and white supremacy may have started. When interviewing a former classmate of Alex Minassian, it’s important to note that he was often made fun of and rejected by those around him. From a young age, the bullying already set him as an outcast to the students, especially romantically. The lack of resources for Alex may be what led him to confide in online forums. As mentioned in Will James’ speech, early prevention and education about masculinities at school could have made a difference in Minessians’ future actions. Once incorporated into the forum, his hatred of others and women is fortified and justified by others who feel similarly. As for Christopher, when growing up in the Deep South in secluded white areas, ignorance towards others is a natural occurrence and it is ingrained in the mindset today as well. When speaking to a local of Charlottesville, she mentions how the city is predominantly back and still faces a lot of racism. This goes to show that it is bigger than just one riot; it has been a generational ignorance that was tolerated for too long. Now, others continue to embrace the disgusting extremism. It is important to note that both of these are forms of hatred to a specific group of people and they are both visible minorities. Part of Kimmel’s text dives into this concept, the instinct of men wanting to be alpha and dominate, he develops the idea that “masculinity is about the drive for domination, the drive for power and conquest”. (Kimmel 49). They will do so by any means; which, in this case, is physical domination. Inceldom and white supremacy both share the common interest of violence and extremism to get a message across. All to say, this is being conducted to show power and instill fear in those around them.

      Both groups share misogynistic perspectives and the sense of societal entitlement caused by their need for violence in moments of powerlessness. Through extensive analysis of online forums used by both parties, incel and white supremacy communities, we see why there is significant overlap in ideologies. For the Charlottesville riot, the online thread of racist tweets and the ability of the group to round up thousands online for a riot is beyond. When investigating they demonstrate no remorse or filter for using slurs and expressing extremist opinions. The incel groups online all converge with one another through platforms like Reddit and feed into one another’s degrading thoughts. In essence, both are vicious cycles of hatred through online platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Reddit etc. It is interesting to note that each participant feels entitled to feeling hatred towards others. Instead of speaking to counsellors or doing some self-reflection, the chosen methods of resolution are using violence and imposing fear. Kimmel states, “Homophobia is the fear that other men will unmask us, emasculate us, reveal to us and the world that we do not measure up that we are not real men.” (Kimmel 147). That is why the men interviewed feel the need to overcompensate online. Those spoken to in the documentaries find it easier to self-justify their actions instead of reflecting on the situation and how they are practicing things such as toxic masculinity, misogyny, racism and extremism. It connects itself to the deeper meanings of Will James’s speech that he neglected to include. Overall, the bigger picture comes down to the fact that the online forums undo any positive masculinity that may have been deep down in the participants. These forums fail to encourage how to positively deal with these feelings. Instead, they promote violent self-justifying behaviour.

The nexus between these two case studies allows viewers to see that there is a very thin line between the root beliefs of inceldom and white supremacy. Both stem from the inability to be a macho man. As well as the fear of not being man enough, whether that be due to rejection or fear of physical overpowerment. All of these things are seen as threats hence the whole point for the outlandish behaviour in the first place. Through thorough analysis of the interviews with participants, analyzing the documentaries themselves and digging into these online forums it proves the correlation between feeling powerless and the use of violence. All of these areas intertwine with the ideas of what being a real man is. And these participants allow us to see beyond the many different facades into the insecurities of these men. How they manage to transform their insecurities about manhood into hatred for others where they feel compelled to use force to prove themselves. However, as similarly mentioned by Will James, instead of practicing positive masculinity that does not harm, harass or categorize others in the process, these men continue to hide misogyny, homophobia and aggression behind what they seem to believe are “traditional values”.

Blog 1: Man Up

In Guys Club and Invincible the world in which the characters live in is shaping them into a standard stereotypically acceptable men. We watch the characters learn the rules of masculinity through various stories and experiences. And as some are learning experiences, we watch them be corrected by others around them into what is acceptable for a boy. Being told what is expected of them by imposing figures like other men around them, chaperones or father figures. The opinion of other men and how you are perceived by them is of great importance. In this journal I will be discussing how negative stereotypes about being a man feed into the vicious cycle of toxic masculinity, how certain qualities are seen as too feminine, and how self expression is limited due to preexisting expectations in society about what being a man is.

“Don’t cry” mama said

 I noticed in Invincible when Marc was calling his mom in the car and all though he was clearly struggling and crying in the middle of a breakdown, instead of letting himself cry he chose to silence himself. I feel as if this is another telling detail of how Marc was raised or maybe the stereotypes he grew up in. Him denying himself of crying is concerning because the character probably thinks that as a boy he can’t allow others to see him sad. He should never cry because that’s not what not boys do. Again this vicious cycle of toxic masculinity negatively impacts Marc once again because it makes me think about the different outcomes if Marc would have spoken up. If he spoke up about his feelings and how he was struggling because of the pressure and structure of the maison des jeunes, maybe he would still be alive. This makes me think of how men do not talk about their feelings and often have no one to share things with which is concerning for mental health purposes because just like Marc we notice how damaging it can be to keep to yourself. Especially because in many cultures still today men are not permitted to cry or talk about their feelings without being seen as weak and often this leads them to less frequently reach out for help when needed because of toxic gender stereotypes. The same idea applies to Carlos after coming back from the gay bar, he was hesitant to share that information with his dad out of fear of what he would think of him. Will he think of him as gay? A lesser man? These are thoughts that Carlos has to weigh before telling him because of the expectations about being a strong man in today’s society. “ I suppose everyone was convinced we had no idea. I still wonder how my dad and Karin would have reacted if they thought we went on purpose.” (Gomez, 73). There is no room for crying or drag shows or sharing feelings. Because then they are lesser men or others might think they are gay.

Being sensitive is gay

I believe both characters have an ongoing struggle as young men understand the duality of vulnerability and that it is not a weak quality to possess. Carlos only comes to this realisation later on in life when writing his own memoir but the boy unfortunately doesn’t come to see this. Both boys seem to think that having this quality interferes with their ability to be a tough man. Reinforcing the negative stereotypes about men and young boys; how they can’t cry and must always be strong. We notice this in the basketball scene at the maison des jeunes with Marc, it almost becomes a pissing contest on who is the biggest man. Because it’s a hostile environment all the boys are in physical competition with one another and allowing yourself to be vulnerable is not an option in order to survive. Under different circumstances for Carlos being vulnerable even on the outside world still was not an option. Maybe this time not for survival purposes but because the stereotypes are so enforced and embedded into his society that being vulnerable would mean he is less of a man. Carlos shared that he was becoming homophobic due to the rejection of what he would call emasculating qualities and the need to posses “straight” qualities 

Limits on male self expression

A topic I found that was reoccurring in Carlos Gomez chapter was throughout his coming of age he wasn’t allowed to express himself in what would be considered untraditional for young men. The classic painted nails that seems to stick with all readers is still worth mentioning because it’s a trivial concept of innocence and how stereotypes take that away from kids. “And I wanted to get my fingernails painted too. My aunt tried to laugh off my request. Then she calmly explained to me that this kind of thing was only for girls.” (Gomez, 66). Carlos simply tried to explore and express himself because he wanted to be beautiful like his sister and aunt. However he’s denied this experience because of predetermined stereotypes and expectations implanted in society previously. Struggling to find ways to express himself as he’s growing up and is robbed of these experiences because of all the stereotypes and expectations that already exist in society around him. I think that Marc in invincible struggles in a similar way because he is also limited in ways of self expression. I believe this is why we see him express himself through his poem. Which maybe among the other young boys would be considered feminine for expressing oneself through writing. Crying for him did not seem to be an option but just like Carlos they had to find alternative ways because their methods were emasculating according to stereotypes.

Exploring Masculinity under different circumstances

Marc and Carlos might not have experienced the same fate if they were set in a more progressive environment or a different cultural context. Carlos wouldn’t have been marked by his experiences on masculinity as deeply as he was. Growing up he wouldn’t have associated the word faggot to being diabled. Maybe he wouldn’t have been socially reprimanded for painting his nails. As well as face disapproval and taboo remarks for going to a gay bar/drag show. Carlos’s experience growing up would have formed him into a more open minded and willing to explore his own self expression to what actual Carlos considered gay. But as we know Carlos himself mentions that due to his cultural and non progressive environment he was heavily homophobie. As for Marc, he most likely would have had less difficulty to express his own feelings if his environment was more progressive. Culturally Marc is québécois and from what I’ve noticed working and living in Quebec mental health is not something that is openly talked about. Therapy is taboo and expressing your feelings is not a common occurrence. If Marc was set in a more progressive environment I genuinely believe he could have overcome his mental health issues with proper help and had a bright future. But due to the exact message the short film is trying to convey, we notice how taboo and impossible this was for Marc due to his circumstances. Alternatively I think different models such as those that challenge what we  modernly think as masculine are present in society, it would help undo the harmful stereotypes we have. Such as many alternative male celebrities pushing boundaries and wearing skirts and dresses on red carpets. These small and alternative progressive changes in society could positively help the progression and undo hurtful stereotypes that we presently see today for future generations.