The Masculinity Police

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
I was online today when I ran across the below tweet. The link is to the original tweet.

https://twitter.com/ms_fishscale/status/1249484419620102145?s=20

Of course the above tweet is ridiculous, but this isn't the first time I've seen people give insane rules for men to be considered straight/masculine/sexually worthwhile. We all know the various ways men police each other's masculinity, but women do it as well. In my time online dating I've seen women put things in their profiles like, "I don't date men with cats" and I've had women that I didn't know make snide, sexuality questioning comments about shirts I've worn. It seems like straight male masculinity is always under a microscope. That's why we have commercials like this:


Men can't even buy soap unless we're assured that it is as manly as possible. It's kind of insulting.

Do you agree that there is a lot of policing of straight male masculinity? If so, why do you think there is so much policing of straight male masculinity and what can we do to stop it? Should it be stopped?
 

LilJock

Superior Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Jan 24, 2009
Posts
1,479
Media
0
Likes
4,970
Points
668
Location
USA
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
I wanted to go out and order Dr Squatch Soap right away. All those masculine, natural scents sounded heavenly! Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a wuss and have to use Dove soap for sensitive skin. Oh, my! However, I was reassured the dark-haired, "masculine-looking" guy has a hairy chest like mine.

I think the masculinity policing is a fairly recent phenomenon. As women got the vote, stepped out of the kitchen and started encroaching on historical male domains like the military, athletics, and business, men have grown typically fearful of their masculine place in the scheme of things. If Dr Squatch Soap can help restore their sense of masculinity, all the better.

Personally, I think men who wear gold bracelets are effeminate. I only wear one because my wife bought it for me.


BTW, have you noticed the Progressive Insurance commercial where the dweeb asks the half man/half motorcycle if he minds being a Moto and the Moto replies, "Do you mind not being one?" To which the dweeb replied, forlornly, "Yes." Now, get me on this, we're supposed to be jealous of a man who's replaced his cock and balls with a gas tank and a combustion engine. "My piston's bigger than yours!" Can a Large Piston Support Group be far off?
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
I wanted to go out and order Dr Squatch Soap right away. All those masculine, natural scents sounded heavenly! Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a wuss and have to use Dove soap for sensitive skin. Oh, my! However, I was reassured the dark-haired, "masculine-looking" guy has a hairy chest like mine.

I think the masculinity policing is a fairly recent phenomenon. As women got the vote, stepped out of the kitchen and started encroaching on historical male domains like the military, athletics, and business, men have grown typically fearful of their masculine place in the scheme of things. If Dr Squatch Soap can help restore their sense of masculinity, all the better.

Personally, I think men who wear gold bracelets are effeminate. I only wear one because my wife bought it for me.


BTW, have you noticed the Progressive Insurance commercial where the dweeb asks the half man/half motorcycle if he minds being a Moto and the Moto replies, "Do you mind not being one?" To which the dweeb replied, forlornly, "Yes." Now, get me on this, we're supposed to be jealous of a man who's replaced his cock and balls with a gas tank and a combustion engine. "My piston's bigger than yours!" Can a Large Piston Support Group be far off?

I think masculinity policing has been going on for a very long time. It was probably worse in the past. Social media just makes it easier to show examples.

I think there is definitely something to be said for the changing roles of women and men in society having an affect on what we perceive as being masculine. I'm not sure if it has altered the way we police and enforce masculinity, though.

As some of you may know, I like 90 Day Fiance and am involved in the fan community there. Something that I've noticed since the first season is that the women who watch it love to call some men on the show gay. In some cases it is understandable, really one case, but most of the time they are just calling normal guys gay. Is it possible that the changing gender dynamics have made women expect some form of hypermasculinity from men?

BTW, I love those weird motorcycle man commercials. They need to make more of them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigbull29

James0909

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Sep 26, 2019
Posts
639
Media
3
Likes
6,056
Points
413
Location
Perth (Western Australia, Australia)
Verification
View
Gender
Male
I’ve experienced the other way around personally.

I’m a masculine man and I’m personally attracted to masculine men, and there’s a large sect of the LGBT community that seems to take issue with both of those things, especially gay men who would be considered more feminine.

I haven’t so much experienced being shamed for not being masculine enough. I’ve experienced the opposite in an increasing frequency.

Policing either way should be stopped. Most of it, in my experience, comes from self-proclaimed “progressive” types/groups.
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
I’ve experienced the other way around personally.

I’m a masculine man and I’m personally attracted to masculine men, and there’s a large sect of the LGBT community that seems to take issue with both of those things, especially gay men who would be considered more feminine.

I haven’t so much experienced being shamed for not being masculine enough. I’ve experienced the opposite in an increasing frequency.

Policing either way should be stopped. Most of it, in my experience, comes from self-proclaimed “progressive” types/groups.

The definition of a man, straight or gay, seems to be very narrow. Thanks for sharing.
 

sodominsane

Legendary Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2010
Posts
1,669
Media
0
Likes
2,309
Points
268
Location
ny
Maybe it’s a thing. yeah I’ve noticed a lot of policing of masculinity (although the definition of masculinity seems to be real shifty moving target)

to the point where if you asked ten people what it was you would get different answers.

that being said. It does seem like policing is on the rise

But maybe cause it’s getting rarer

turns out that testosterone levels are dropping with each generation

but the Flynn effect says each generation is getting smarter .so maybe it evens out

as far as the tweet...not sure how feminine I am but I’m a big eater. And a man of hedonistic excess. When I go out to eat I’ll eat an appetizer (maybe two) ,main course ,desert A bottle of wine and finish what my dinner company doesn’t eat. So if ordering desert is a red flag. I’m waving a flashing electric red flag that’s on fire
 
  • Like
Reactions: shard38

sodominsane

Legendary Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2010
Posts
1,669
Media
0
Likes
2,309
Points
268
Location
ny
The definition of a man, straight or gay, seems to be very narrow. Thanks for sharing.
The definition of a man, straight or gay, seems to be very narrow. Thanks for sharing.

i would disagree

definition of a man is not narrow and depends if who you ask

ask a single mom and a man is someone who pays their child support

a police interrogators says a man is someone who owns up to thier mistakes and confesses

A football team mate...a man is a middle linebacker who brings the hat and stuffs the 2 gap

ask a church pastor ... a man is a guy who tithes and obeys the word of good

ask a wife and a man provides for family

ask a cuckold and a man is a big dick muscle head Who fucks his wife

ask an innovator of industry and a man is creative

ask an army officer and a man follows orders

ask a scientist and a man is an adult human with xy chromosomes

Ask an early American author and a man is a rugged individualists

Ask a conservative and they
Will tell you a man has a penis

ask the trans community and they will inform
You a penis is not required at all

ask a protester and a man stands up for change

Ask a traditionalist and a man honors history and traditions of the past

I could go on and on but you get the picture

Me ...I’m not sure what the definition of man or masculinity is

the only thing we can be sure we can all agree on is A MAN USES DR.SQUATCH PRODUCTS!!!!!!
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
i would disagree

definition of a man is not narrow and depends if who you ask

ask a single mom and a man is someone who pays their child support

a police interrogators says a man is someone who owns up to thier mistakes and confesses

A football team mate...a man is a middle linebacker who brings the hat and stuffs the 2 gap

ask a church pastor ... a man is a guy who tithes and obeys the word of good

ask a wife and a man provides for family

ask a cuckold and a man is a big dick muscle head Who fucks his wife

ask an innovator of industry and a man is creative

ask an army officer and a man follows orders

ask a scientist and a man is an adult human with xy chromosomes

Ask an early American author and a man is a rugged individualists

Ask a conservative and they
Will tell you a man has a penis

ask the trans community and they will inform
You a penis is not required at all

ask a protester and a man stands up for change

Ask a traditionalist and a man honors history and traditions of the past

I could go on and on but you get the picture

Me ...I’m not sure what the definition of man or masculinity is

the only thing we can be sure we can all agree on is A MAN USES DR.SQUATCH PRODUCTS!!!!!!

They might disagree on what a man is, although I think there isn't as much difference in your examples as you might think, but I think there will be widespread agreement on what a man isn't. I think that is at the heart of masculinity policing.
 

sodominsane

Legendary Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2010
Posts
1,669
Media
0
Likes
2,309
Points
268
Location
ny
They might disagree on what a man is, although I think there isn't as much difference in your examples as you might think, but I think there will be widespread agreement on what a man isn't. I think that is at the heart of masculinity policing.
Please explain how they are not much different
 

DiamondJoe

Superior Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2020
Posts
6,578
Media
10
Likes
7,866
Points
133
Age
44
Location
Glastonbury (Somerset, England)
Sexuality
50% Straight, 50% Gay
Gender
Male
I'm secure in my gender and sexuality. I don't feel threatened or bombarded for being exactly as I am, irrespective of whether or not that fits into narrow gender stereotypes.

Given some of the comments here I think men are starting to understand what it's like for women.
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
I'm secure in my gender and sexuality. I don't feel threatened or bombarded for being exactly as I am, irrespective of whether or not that fits into narrow gender stereotypes.

Given some of the comments here I think men are starting to understand what it's like for women.

The thing is, and I'm going to get shit for this, but I think the idea of what it means to be a woman has been expanding for the past several decades. Not so much for men. In fact, in some ways the acceptable range of masculine actions is shrinking.

Probably 50 years ago a man could have a model train set and most people wouldn't bat an eye. Nowadays though, I think many people on social media would call this hypothetical man gay.

Some of the things I, in my adulthood, have heard men called gay for include, liking sweets, wearing nice clothes, reading comic books, eating appetizers, and being short. Keep in mind, I don't mean gay as a pejorative, but as a descriptor. I knew a woman who thought any man under a certain height must be a homosexual.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deleted16577781

DiamondJoe

Superior Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2020
Posts
6,578
Media
10
Likes
7,866
Points
133
Age
44
Location
Glastonbury (Somerset, England)
Sexuality
50% Straight, 50% Gay
Gender
Male
Some of the things I, in my adulthood, have heard men called gay for include, liking sweets, wearing nice clothes, reading comic books, eating appetizers, and being short. Keep in mind, I don't mean gay as a pejorative, but as a descriptor. I knew a woman who thought any man under a certain height must be a homosexual.

Yeah, but what yr describing there is just small-minded prejudice.

And besides, ain't nothin' wrong with being gay.
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
Yeah, but what yr describing there is just small-minded prejudice.

And besides, ain't nothin' wrong with being gay.

It is small minded prejudice, but small are very common.

Nothing is wrong with being gay, but homosexuality is used as a way to attack straight men all the time. Is that wrong? Yes. But it is the reality of the situation.
 

DiamondJoe

Superior Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2020
Posts
6,578
Media
10
Likes
7,866
Points
133
Age
44
Location
Glastonbury (Somerset, England)
Sexuality
50% Straight, 50% Gay
Gender
Male
It is small minded prejudice, but small are very common.

Nothing is wrong with being gay, but homosexuality is used as a way to attack straight men all the time. Is that wrong? Yes. But it is the reality of the situation.

Time to reeducate your friends, or get new ones?
 
  • Like
Reactions: deleted1074483

petergroot

Superior Member
Account Deletion Pending
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Posts
5,201
Media
83
Likes
8,615
Points
443
Location
Australia, Cuba
Sexuality
90% Straight, 10% Gay
Gender
Male
Time to reeducate your friends, or get new ones?
Or maybe to try not to be so totally influenced by what other people think?
Is it possible to live one's life to some basic rules like sex beteeen consenting adults, leave minors and animals alone, take care of the enviroment and be kind?
 

Player_01

Superior Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2019
Posts
1,474
Media
0
Likes
8,288
Points
408
Location
United States
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Men can't even buy soap unless we're assured that it is as manly as possible. It's kind of insulting.

Do you agree that there is a lot of policing of straight male masculinity? If so, why do you think there is so much policing of straight male masculinity and what can we do to stop it? Should it be stopped?
Yes I think it should be stopped because it's pretty toxic and it is insulting to guys. I think it's an expansion of how companies market to women by telling them they're not enough without the products they sell (soap, cosmetics, etc) and now they are trying to tell men you/we can be manly-men by buying special man-soap.

The irony is, all these man-products always remind me of Jack McFarland from Will and Grace who had to call everything "man" in order to justify using it, like getting a man-tan. :laughing:
 

bigdickstripper

Legendary Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
75
Media
9
Likes
1,177
Points
218
Location
Thorshavn (Streymoy, Faroe Islands)
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
I was online today when I ran across the below tweet. The link is to the original tweet.

https://twitter.com/ms_fishscale/status/1249484419620102145?s=20

Of course the above tweet is ridiculous, but this isn't the first time I've seen people give insane rules for men to be considered straight/masculine/sexually worthwhile. We all know the various ways men police each other's masculinity, but women do it as well. In my time online dating I've seen women put things in their profiles like, "I don't date men with cats" and I've had women that I didn't know make snide, sexuality questioning comments about shirts I've worn. It seems like straight male masculinity is always under a microscope. That's why we have commercials like this:


Men can't even buy soap unless we're assured that it is as manly as possible. It's kind of insulting.

Do you agree that there is a lot of policing of straight male masculinity? If so, why do you think there is so much policing of straight male masculinity and what can we do to stop it? Should it be stopped?

Thats just her opinion of masculinity vs femininity. I personally would not be bothered with that at all. Propably wouldn't date her as it seems our ideas might not be a good fit.

But I would definitely not let someone elses ideas and definitions of desireability and masculinity have any sort of impact on my sense of self worth.

She (and all those with opinions) might think differently in 6 months (or tomorrow for that matter). Thats how fleeting and non-serious these things are.

To each his own.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deleted1074483

twoton

Superior Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Posts
7,865
Media
1
Likes
8,301
Points
268
Location
Mid Atlantic
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
I agree that a guy shouldn’t let someone else’s ideas define him, but it’s not realistic for a guy to separate himself from friends and family who pressure him to act a certain way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wallyj84