Hypermasculinity
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Hypermasculinity is a psychological term for the exaggeration of male stereotypical behavior, such as an emphasis on strength, aggression, body hair, odor and virility. This term can be pejorative, though it is also used when examining the behavior (as adaptive or maladaptive) dispassionately.
The phenomenon can result from personal, societal, and cultural influences. Although the behavior can stem from practice and belief systems, marginalized communities of men may also display attributes of hypermasculinity to rebuff stereotyped or generalized behavior. It is also possible for oppressed groups challenged by socially constructed views of their communities to assimilate hypermasculine images and attitudes. This is especially true when part of the oppressive conditions include societal attitudes, laws, and practices that prohibit or change the tradition and norms of the marginalized group. Hypermasculinty's diametrical opposite behavior is termed hypomasculinity.
"Hypermasculine" can also refer to a style of erotic art in which male character's muscles and penis/testicles are portrayed as being unrealistically huge and prominent. A gay artist who exploits hypermasculine types is Tom of Finland.
Places where hypermasculinity is commonly seen
- John Wayne movies
- Hip Hop culture
- NFL season
- Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
- Lesbian chat rooms
- Frat boy culture
- Mormon churches
- Mexican communities
- Star Trek
See also
