“Nice guys finish last” is a statement that is commonly heard among men who fail to win over women they are interested in. It is almost a form of self-congratulatory reassurance that the rejection was solely due to the fact that the women are not into “honest, good and nice” men, as portrayed by several television shows and movies in the media. This reassurance is used to create a sense of completion where these group of men feel inadequate and insecure. This notion was strongly delved into in my assignment one. However, for this critical reflection, I will be exploring another trigger that plays a role and contributes to the support of said notion. This trigger will focus on the role of femininity and race. Masculinity and misogyny are parallel
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Masculinity and misogyny also go hand in hand. Hence, there is a connection here. Femininity is a very distinct theory that is celebrated by females but shunned by males, and this notion is constantly endorsed by the media (Chu). Masculinity is a prized attitude that is strongly endorsed and expressed by the media. Lack of masculinity has a negative stigma, since it shows a weaker position in the hierarchy of men that is created by the media and society (Consalvo 30). This negative stigma is a result of the hierarchy of hegemonic masculinity that is embedded into society through the media (Chu). Hegemonic masculinity can be defined as a particular way of being for men, where a man holds attributes that guarantee him the title of the “ideal man”, it is also the most normalised way of being a man (Consalvo 30). For a woman to be rid of her femininity, although also can hold negative connotations, it is incomparable. To be masculinised automatically refers to a status of power. To be feminised on the other hand, automatically refers to softness. In order to successfully be masculine, putting it rather curtly, as discussed by Consalvo, you have to be physically strong, heterosexual and lastly, dominant (30). In order to dominate, others must submit to you, whether willingly or not. This is the role femininity plays. In the media, femininity is portrayed as beautiful, soft, and elegant and although expressed in different forms, an …show more content…
Hence, in a sense, without femininity, masculinity would not exist (Consalvo 30). This is one dichotomy that feeds from one another. Feminine women are to be attracted to masculine men, as displayed by the television show the Big Bang Theory, where the main character Leonard had to compete with Penny’s past flames (Chu). The clear-cut difference between Leonard and Penny’s past flames is their placement on the hierarchy of hegemonic masculinity. The entire television show celebrates the male characters, in particular Leonard, “scoring” with women who are “out of their league” (Chu). This successful romantic coupling is a direct result of Leonard’s perseverance and strong awareness that he falls short on the hierarchy of hegemonic masculinity, but still pushes through and wins his prize; Penny. He is utilised as a representation that “nice men don’t always finish last”. Leonard may lack on the strength and dominance, but he has the girl of his dreams. Also, he is
Masculinity and misogyny also go hand in hand. Hence, there is a connection here. Femininity is a very distinct theory that is celebrated by females but shunned by males, and this notion is constantly endorsed by the media (Chu). Masculinity is a prized attitude that is strongly endorsed and expressed by the media. Lack of masculinity has a negative stigma, since it shows a weaker position in the hierarchy of men that is created by the media and society (Consalvo 30). This negative stigma is a result of the hierarchy of hegemonic masculinity that is embedded into society through the media (Chu). Hegemonic masculinity can be defined as a particular way of being for men, where a man holds attributes that guarantee him the title of the “ideal man”, it is also the most normalised way of being a man (Consalvo 30). For a woman to be rid of her femininity, although also can hold negative connotations, it is incomparable. To be masculinised automatically refers to a status of power. To be feminised on the other hand, automatically refers to softness. In order to successfully be masculine, putting it rather curtly, as discussed by Consalvo, you have to be physically strong, heterosexual and lastly, dominant (30). In order to dominate, others must submit to you, whether willingly or not. This is the role femininity plays. In the media, femininity is portrayed as beautiful, soft, and elegant and although expressed in different forms, an …show more content…
Hence, in a sense, without femininity, masculinity would not exist (Consalvo 30). This is one dichotomy that feeds from one another. Feminine women are to be attracted to masculine men, as displayed by the television show the Big Bang Theory, where the main character Leonard had to compete with Penny’s past flames (Chu). The clear-cut difference between Leonard and Penny’s past flames is their placement on the hierarchy of hegemonic masculinity. The entire television show celebrates the male characters, in particular Leonard, “scoring” with women who are “out of their league” (Chu). This successful romantic coupling is a direct result of Leonard’s perseverance and strong awareness that he falls short on the hierarchy of hegemonic masculinity, but still pushes through and wins his prize; Penny. He is utilised as a representation that “nice men don’t always finish last”. Leonard may lack on the strength and dominance, but he has the girl of his dreams. Also, he is