What Did It Mean to Be a Man in 2015?
What did it mean to be a man in 2015? The Representation Project — helmed by filmmaker and activist Jennifer Siebel Newsom — tried to answer the question, looking at the year in masculinity via pop culture, media, and advertising. What they found were plenty of stereotypes. Apparently, to be a studly guy, you need hot babes, fast cars, ripped abs, and be ready to rumble. Bonus points if you’re digging into red meat with a blonde and a gun as accessories. Brands that scored high on the stereotype meter, according to the video, were Victoria’s Secret, Carl’s Junior, and even Lincoln.
However, the team also found stars, brands, politicians, ads, and conversations that have been championing a more well-rounded, nuanced view of guydom. Brands like Dove, Swiffer, and Teleflora put out images of involved, loving dads who aren’t afraid to rock baby carriers. Celebrities like Matt McGorry of How to Get Away With Murder declared that he was a feminist. Actor Terry Crews shared that “big guys cry.” One of the biggest tough guys out there, Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, talked how he wants to lead his life for his daughter. The video also features NFL Sunday co-host Terry Bradshaw wishing that the NFL would do something about players that abuse women.
Newsom and her team are experts at calling out everyday images that they believe send the wrong messages. Her groundbreaking 2011 film, Miss Representation, put the spotlight on female stereotypes and showed how hard it is for young girls to not feel the pressure of being judged by their looks in an appearance-obsessed culture. Newsom was behind the viral hashtag #AskHerMore, which aimed to inspire the media to move beyond the superficial when talking to women on the red carpet. Her most recent documentary, The Mask You Live In, turned the focus to boys, and how a very narrow definition of what it means to be a man is hurting them. Boys are more likely to be prescribed prescription medications, commit suicide, drop out of school, or commit a violent crime. The movie aspired to change the way we raise boys and change the messages we send them.
What Did it Mean to “Be a Man” in 2015? continues Newsom’s look at masculinity, and the hope is that it will inspire a broader idea of guydom.
“What we’ve learned through our latest film, The Mask You Live In, is that we need an international conversation on what it means to be a man in our society. So often, we see one-dimensional portrayals of men, encouraging them to value economic success, sexual conquest, physical aggression, and dominance as top traits,” says Newsom. “We need to break these archaic gender stereotypes for men — just as we need to continue to do with women — to encourage everyone to be human beings over gender stereotypes.”
So was this a breakout year for guys to be who they want to be? Is the American ideal of masculinity shifting? Check out the video above and decide for yourself.
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