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THE GENDER issue WILL WHAT MAKES A MAN? CAOLAN
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What makes a TEXT ASHLEIGH ULETT
MAN?
When you think of the word ‘man’, words like strong, masculine and independent spring to mind. People say that being a man and masculinity come hand in hand, for straight men anyway. Through the social construction of gay men over the years there has been a stigma attached to them that they are more effeminate and generally exhibit more female characteristics rather than male. The stereotype of a gay man is actually a lot wider than most people are aware of, it is not simply the obvious two, masculine and camp, there is diversity in gay men. There will always be distinctions in the way both men and women dress and how this projects their sexuality, but over the years fashion has evolved in such a way that it actually promotes gender. A woman is said to wear a piece of clothing that will accentuate her figure and a man is to wear an outfit that makes his shoulders appear broad, emphasising his manliness, but this is no more. Take Jaden Smith, a boy at 18 years of age who has helped blend both female and male gender within the fashion industry. He opened the eyes of many making gender fluidity more acceptable when starring in Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 16’ Campaign, where he appeared alongside other women wearing a skirt. Designers such as Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent have also promoted the use of the tuxedo for woman and dresses for men. Why must the stigma of men dressing more feminine come with being homosexual? The way a person dresses gives an opinion to the world of how you want people to perceive you. A straight man is more than capable of wearing a skirt in the same way that a gay man is also able to wear a suit to make him appear strong and masculine. Will is a 19-year-old, 6ft 2, gay man from a small town in North Yorkshire. He has a beard and wears plain T-shirts usually paired with black jeans; not displaying particularly feminine qualities which is the expectation that comes with being gay. Throughout his whole life he has expressed a great desire with anything involving art and has continued this exploration whilst studying film at university. This makes him no less of a man but according to an online article it’s stated that: “If boys have a natural love for art, theatre, or singing they are immediately categorized, boxed up, and put on a shelf where people are called “gay”. Masculinity is represented in a way that is beyond biology, it is a certain image that has been created socially by people to determine whether or not a person is manly enough. Who’s to say that gay men can’t exude these attributes too just because they’re attracted to men and not women? This then poses the question that perhaps if all gay men asserted factors of masculinity, just like a percentage of them do, would straight men stop viewing them as ‘different’ but instead view them as ‘the same.’ Joseph Pleck, professor and men’s psychologist states that: “our society uses male heterosexual-homosexual dichotomy as a central symbol for all the rankings of masculinity, for the division on any grounds between males who are ‘real men’ and have power, and males who are not”. This idea that straight men tend to feel slightly awkward around gay men is widely discussed and is recognised by the gay community. Will states: “I can tell straight away when boys are acting different around me, I guess when a guy isn’t perhaps comfortable with his sexuality they change.” This separation that has been created between the two is unnecessary because both straight and gay men are still men at the end of the day; people’s behaviour shouldn’t change when around each other. Will continued: “They either feel like they need to be really really nice to me or they’re just a bit awkward.”
It could just be this predetermined notion that gay men are attracted to all men and can’t control their desires and because of this, men deem it ok to create a divide between the two. Like straight men, men who are homosexual are only attracted to particular people; the idea that every gay man has a universal desire for all straight men is absurd. Is this due to the undeniable fact that straight men want to make it known that they are the more masculine man? In many aspects of life for a man being more masculine might be seen as a way to have more opportunities. it is a dominant way to get through and reach the highest level especially with certain careers. For effeminate gay men this could be a place where their sexuality and personality creates an unnecessary problem and provides them with less opportunities, Will reflects: “if a gay guy walks in a room with bright pink trousers on people are likely to roll their eyes but if a straight guy walked in the room with a nicely cut suit and a trimmed beard with aftershave on they’d be like yeah.” This then poses the undeniable question: will being gay ever be fully accepted by society as a whole? This attitude may always exist in society, but it doesn’t mean it’s ok. Gay men are considered to deviate from the masculine norm and are continuously perceived as being feminine and gentle. Although the judgment of gay men in today’s day and age has improved drastically, there’s still the never-ending stereotype that being gay goes hand in hand with femininity. We need to acknowledge that this stereotype can be altered and let the realisation hit that being gay and masculine is a thing. Whilst there are many men within the gay community who express themselves through the form of dress, behaviour and speech in ways that are seen as effeminate which is perfectly acceptable, there are many others who don’t. It’s extremely problematic that through social construction there is the assumption that all gay men display the same behaviour and have the same personality traits. “Who are we to say that someone is too anything, it’s like saying someone is too straight and you don’t really say that do you?” states Will.
“They either feel like they need to be really really nice to me or they’re just a bit awkward.” WILLIAM O’BRIEN FILM STUDENT
C Ol N a A
it’s a mans world
Photography and Styling by Ashleigh Ulett