Examples Of Masculinity In Dude You Re A Fag

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In our society we see two forms of masculinity, hegemonic, and subordinate, this is known as the sociology of masculinity. Hegemonic is a very honored form of masculinity. This is the alpha male example, the man that protects all things, he is more superior than others both male and female, he has the chiseled chin, and the six pack you could wash your clothes on. Subordinate masculinity, on the other hand, defies the hegemonic norms society is so fond of. These males posses feminine qualities that put them below the hegemonic males on a hierarchal scale. Although what we find in our readings is hegemonic masculinity is policed by the worry that one may become subordinate if any sign of weakness is shown. I had a friend through high school,
The idea Pascoe is bringing forth in the reading, ‘Dude You’re a Fag’: Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag Discourse, is the same as the story I included about my friend from high school. Being called a “fag” is not a homophobic term used to highlight only gay men, “fag” a term used towards both gay and non gay boys in order to keep them in line. My friend didn’t want to be called a derogatory term such as “fag”, so he chose to hide his personality under the hegemonic version of himself. C.J. Pascoe states, “Fag’ is not necessarily a static identity attached to a particular (homo- sexual) boy. Fag talk and fag imitations serve as a discourse with which boys discipline themselves and each other through joking relationships.” (Pascoe.
That being a “more masculine” man is a sign of power, and being feminine in any way is a bad thing. There is a superiority complex over all genders that comes with being a hegemonic male. It creates a type of gender gap not only between subordinate gay men, subordinate straight men, and hegemonic gay and straight men, but also between those same men and women. If a female was as masculine as a hegemonic male she may be teased, or frowned upon. The standard is set for men and women alike due to what society thinks they should be. Women are even forced to fall into these gender norms, and conform to what men think they should look like, and what society wants them to be. Femininity is exaggerated by women sometimes in order to conform, and fit in. So, while the “fag” discourse does not apply directly to women, it is relevant here, because indirectly women do suffer from the hegemonic norm men seek to

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