Michel Foucault Gender Identity Analysis

The French historian and philosopher, Michel Foucault, argues that a society can greatly influence how a certain subject is perceived and that an idea becomes dominantly accepted throughout the community, especially if issues that involve the majority of society arouse the concerns of the people. Gender roles are formed by what society deems acceptable. These societal norms are often the opinion of the majority. Those who adhere from said norms are often oppressed by the tyranny of the majority. Depending on the society, deviating from these roles can result in rejection and even include harmful consequences. As society adapts and develops towards modernity, its ideas an evolve and change over time. Gender stereotypes can have positive and negative aspects as it can help construct one’s character or restrict development and expression of those people. When society goes through significant historical events, it can lead to drastic changes in gender roles as urgency and despair wash over that society. By examining media outlets from a specific historical event, one can study their individual gender characteristics and the development it has …show more content…
These standards are normally set through cultural and traditional background. Some societies believe that men should exert a sense of masculinity. That machismo should be dominant in men, as it is proof of their manhood. Traditional maleness includes patriarchal attributes. These societies view the “ideal man” as someone who is powerful, impassive, and fearless. They must be able to defend their name, honor, and family without hesitation. This perception of masculinity is prevalent in the posters chosen for display during the First World War. Posters labelled with phrases such as “It’s Men We Want”, greatly emphasize the need for men by bolding and capitalizing the word, “Men”. The posters make it clear that this is a war for grown men, not