GLOBAL HISTORICAL
GQ
& CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT Masculinity. A term, normally, used to describe “the quality or nature of the male sex”. Throughout history, the term “masculinity” was reserved for the strong male presences of our society, such as our: fathers, politicians, factory workers, military service men, athletes, construction workers, business men, entrepreneurs, millionaires and billionaires, and so on. “Masculinity” is a right of passage that’s given to all men for them to define for themselves, but can also be easily stripped away by their “peers” if they act lesser in any way.
Culturally, and societally, we place certain structures and limitations on ourselves and BUT WHY? others from a very young age. We are taught about what it does and doesn’t mean to be a man or woman; masculine or feminine. Feminine is regularly thought of as “delicate”, “natural”, and “beautiful”. Whereas masculine is regularly thought of as “tough”, “strong”, and “brave”. In recent years, the terms “masculinity” and “femininity” have been deconstructed by many in the belief that there is no one way to properly define either or. Masculinity | 05
