Masculinity

— rob howe

Buff men are caricatures of what manhood is. Or so I think whenever I see a bloke wearing a tight, hugging shirt, bearing his ripped arms and bulging pecs.

On the one hand I rate these guys. Committed, they’ve exerted sustained effort to achieve such a physique. And they obviously value their health and wellbeing. But why do they go to such extremes?

Is it to exhibit their virility? Or perhaps they’re insecure?

I think they do it because they’ve lost their minds. Rather, they understand masculinity to be defined by physicality and so they appropriate the image of peak state and bastardise it.

The human form in its peak state has been appreciated over the centuries. Michelangelo’s David demonstrates the worked body is a beautiful object. But confusion of the masculine can be seen in the individuals who sport grossly formed muscles, built by supplements and shakes.

The flawless physique exposes the flaws of the person. An accomplishment of masculinity, absent of what masculinity is. It’s impossible to define masculinity through physicality.

It has been proven there are nine variations of sex and there are strong possibilities there could be more.

The caricatured male is a physical representation of what we think we should be, rather than embracing who and what we are. Within the neoliberal paradigm I suggest the media is a tool used by a hegemony to perpetuate anxiety amongst a globalised populace.

Our psychology is manipulated by marketers who know we (consumers) will feel compelled to copy the behaviour of others. This is why culture is saturated with digitally enhanced images. Anxiety is bred by a sense of deficiency. But to emerge as citizens it is necessary to resist.

Not saying I don’t work out, because I do. And I check myself out in the mirror too. But I understand masculinity is an idea and not a Truth. Masculinity is constructed to define roles for us within society. Masculinity is a label which excuses inequality.

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Rob Howe believes the stories we tell hold transformational potential. Recognising climate change as the challenge of our time we are in need of telling a new story to live by.