walk like a man...talk like a man?

In last weeks class, we watched a video about the "typical" role that men often work at to portray. These "cookie cutter" men are what little boys dream of being, right? Tall, dark, handsome, strong, muscular, tough, badass, rebel, etc.? Masculinity in our world today, is a very narrow concept. Because of this, I feel as though the media is almost forced to meet the standards of these tough guys, by portaying this character in shows and movies. If a guy isn't masculine, than he is weak, geeky, nerdy, etc. What is a man without his masculinity?


However, what happens when a man strays away from the ideal? Is that character always made to be weak? According to what we have grown up thinking, this man must be ugly, fat, weak, and nerdy, because he doesn't fit into the role that he should. However, this isn't always true...There are many men that go against the "ideal" and are still looked up to and viewed as someone who is manly and desireable.

Justin Timberlake:
Justin Timberlake is a man who doesn't fit into the ideal image of the typical man. He is thin, funny, kinda nerdy, and not very hardcore. He is someone, however, that girls still view as being a man. Just because he doesn't fit into the norm, he is still masculine. There are many different kinds!

Ryan Gosling:
Another example of a man who isn't buldging with muscles and giving mean looks to anyone and everyone. He is a clean cut man, who is a star in many famous movies. He is the guy people tend to put in the "friend" zone, because he doesn't give off the idealism that they prefer. However, he is one that all girls admire.

Ryan Reynolds:
Lastly, is this gentleman, Ryan Reynolds. He is again, a funny man who doens't portray the typical image that is expected. He is sensitive, humorous, and often nerdy. He is a man who is knowlegdable, and doesn't act like someone who is always looking to pick a fight, also.









So, as shown above, not every man needs to be the tough meat head, with buldging muscles, to be considered masculine. In every day life, more men look like the ones above, rather than the others.