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Gender Observation #2

Alexandra Franz

University of Calgary

SOCI 303

Dr. Annette Tzli

February 10, 2017

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The Mask you live in provides a thought-provoking representation of the impacts a binary

gendered system has on the individuals in society, specifically men. According to West and

Zimmerman in our daily lives we are doing gender, meaning we are performing the activities

and exhibiting the traits that are prescribed for us (Kimmel & Holler, 2017, p. 113).

Accordingly, West and Zimmerman view gender as an outcome of our interactions within society

rather than a permanent aspect of our identity (Kimmel & Holler, 2017, p. 113). Gender is

constructed as more of an action than a trait. The Mask you live in showcases many ways men act

out or do gender in their daily lives.

Successful masculinity in North American men is characterized by aggression, strength,

athletic ability, competitiveness, financial achievement, accomplishments, lack of emotion, and

being in control (Siebel Newsom, 2015). The traits of successful masculinity can be summed up

in the idea of hegemonic masculinity which is the ultimate form of masculinity, situated against

femininity and subordinate masculinities (Kimmel & Holler, 2017, p. 8). In their daily lives,

many of the men in the film try to showcase their masculinity by emulating the traits of

hegemonic masculinity. For example, in the film a young man named Ian suggests that he

dropped his voiced, joined a ton of sports, and cut his hair to showcase a more masculine

identity. He states school was a training ground for me to learn to preform masculinity - to

perform, to be one of the guys (Siebel Newsom, 2015). This example showcases West and

Zimmermans idea that our interactions cause us to act out our gender (Kimmel & Holler, 2017,

p. 113). Ians changes happened once he reached middle school as a result of being bullied and

pressured socially to drop his feminine traits; Ian was sanctioned due to his non-conformity.

Another major way that some men in the film do gender is by keeping their emotions to

themselves rather expressing them. Typically being emotional, crying, or talking about feelings is
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characteristic of femininity (A. Tzli, personal communication, January, 2017). In performing

masculinity many of these men did not show emotions, such as pain and sadness. They suffered

from loneliness and a lack of connection (Siebel Newsom, 2015). While many of these men

wished to express their emotions and connect with others, they were reluctant as society does not

value men that are emotional (Siebel Newsom, 2015). Siebel Newsom (2015) showcases that the

lack of positive emotional outlets for men can cause built up emotions to be expressed through

violence or aggression, demonstrating that these characteristics are not inherently male.

The film argues that the characteristics of successful masculinity are not biologically

based, rather they arise as a result of the social organization of gender (Siebel Newsom, 2015).

For example, the film highlights that aggression is not necessarily a masculine trait, but is the

product of men being socialized that they should not express their pain or sadness. Similarly,

social constructionists argue that gendered institutions create the gender differences and

characteristics that many believe are biologically based (Kimmel & Holler, 2017, p. 109).

Institutions in society have measures in place to ensure we preform our correct gender in public.

Kimmel & Holler (2017) use Goffmans example of public washrooms to illustrate how the

spatial organization of public places reinforce gender differences (p. 109).

In addition to gender being social organized, gender is also reinforced by the use of social

sanctions on those who do not conform. Throughout the film, young men are sanctioned to

conform to hegemonic masculinity. Ian says he was called a fag or a sissy or a pussy or wuss

as a form of social pressure and sanction for his display of feminine attributes (Siebel Newsom,

2015). Another man says that he was bullied for not being masculine enough; he did not value or

exhibit the idealized traits of violence or sleeping around with many women (Siebel Newsom,

2015). According to Kimmel & Holler (2017), When our gender identities are threatened, we
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will often retreat to displays of exaggerated masculinity or exaggerated femininity (Kimmel &

Holler, 2017, p. 116). Threats to a mans gender identity such as being bullied or called a

pussy, can cause pressure to conform to and perform a successful masculine identity within

society.
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References

Kimmel, M. S. & Holler, J. (2017). The gendered society (2nd Canadian ed.). Don Mills: Oxford

University Press.

Siebel Newsom, J., Congdon, J., Anthony, J., Disney, A., Dreyfous, G., Johnson, S. E., . . .

Shriver, M. (Producers), & Siebel Newsom, J. (Director). (2015). The mask you live in

[Documentary]. United States: The Representation Project.