Masculinity In 'Boys Don T Cry'

Hollywood films, even and especially the films claiming to be progressive or groundbreaking when it comes to matters of sex, sexuality and gender, remain in the final analysis profoundly hetero-normative and even homophobic in nature. The film Boys Don’t Cry” does not conform to hetero-normative ideals and in fact challenges homophobic views: “Boys Don’t Cry” is perhaps the only film addressing the issue of female Masculinity by a self-described queer filmmaker” (Cooper, B. 49) Kohnen argues that Boys don’t cry and Brokeback Mountain, although hailed as progressive for the LGBTQ community actually aren’t a breakthrough as neither movie challenges ideas of sexuality or race and both movies “render the representations of queer desires and identities non-threatening to the norms of Hollywood cinema and American society” (Kohnen 141). However, I disagree, although not without problems, the film “Boys Don’t Cry” opens a dialogue regarding gender identity, especially for the non-queer audience and challenges hetero-normative ideas of gender and sexuality. Furthermore, it also serves as a counter balance to some of the transphobia presented in the media …show more content…
The film respectfully and correctly maintains Brandon’s self-determined gender and despite violent and degrading attempts to strip him of his masculinity, his true self remains. It’s almost impossible for the viewer, despite knowing Brandon’s original sex, to regard Brandon as anything but male. Artfully shot, Peirce always maintains Brandon’s “maleness”. The film therefore challenges assumptions of heteronormativity: “The most basic assumption of heteronormativity is that gender is naturally ascribed, natural, and immutable” (Cooper, B.