This is always my conundrum: If straight masculinity is so all-powerful, why is it so fragile in the face of two men holding hands? Or a happily single woman? If masculinity were as stable and solid as it is supposed to be then wouldn’t two men in an embrace be even better – amplified masculinity? As long as straight masculinity is defined by 1) violent aggresssion 2) subordination of women and 3) homophobia – it is always going to be a reaction instead of an actual point of view.
Republic of T points us to:
Participants were randomly assigned feedback that indicated their responses were either masculine of feminine. The women had no discernable reaction to either type of feedback in a follow-up survey. But the guys’ reactions were "strongly affected," Willer said today. "I found that if you made men more insecure about their masculinity, they displayed more homophobic attitudes, tended to support the Iraq war more and would be more willing to purchase an SUV over another type of vehicle," said Willer said. "There were no increases [in desire] for other types of cars."
This just reinforces market research that SUV ownership can be hallmarks of insecurity and vanity. Basically – if you drive a fucking tank around town you might be overcompensating.
Leave a Reply