Comments on: tough guise: compulsory masculinity

By: Shira

Shira — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:03:56 +0000

Tough Guise Part 2 is coming down the pike. If folks have thoughts about masculinity, women, the queer community, etc. seems like this would be a great moment to get in touch w/Jackson Katz. He's findable through http://jacksonkatz.com. Tough Guise is pricey, for sure! It's available for free full-length preview at the Media Education Foundation website. Thanks for all these posts, Mr. Sexsmith! xo

By: What Happened in May - Sugarbutch Chronicles

What Happened in May - Sugarbutch Chronicles — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:15:32 +0000

[...] Video clip from the film Tough Guise about compulsory masculinity [...]

By: Miss Avarice

Miss Avarice — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:50:27 +0000

I've seen this a couple times before too, and the point here is not so much that men have rigid gender roles, but that those roles involve the physical danger of the violence that is incorporated in the masculine role. This is the basic problem to solve, as we begin the revolution of masculinity and "Tough Guise" is an important step in demystifying masculinity.

By: Jess

Jess — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:28:18 +0000

I just saw this same clip at a feminist thingy in the UK a few weeks ago – I didn't realise it was part of a full-length film, though.

Just this clip is a really good introduction, definitely, to thinking about masculinities – would be really interesting to see the whole thing. Seems like a shame it's not more readily available… !

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:28:29 +0000

This is good basic information to start groups and individuals looking at and talking about what changes we each can make.

My father, son of an alcoholic, has played the tough guise all his life. If you touch his shoulders, he is so armored he can't feel. Sad.

By: Essin' Em

Essin' Em — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:39:54 +0000

I've seen this more than 12 times over the last 6 years, and he came to speak for TBTN one year (not so good of an in-person speaker). At first, I thought this was a fabulous movie, and it was…10 years ago, or when ever it made. Just like Killing Us Softly was a wonderful movie….10 or 20 years ago.

But I think we need to move on and process more. Let's talk about how masculinity affects the queer community, with stereotypes, expectations, hatred towards those who don't fit in. Let's talk about how advertising (esp tobacco) targets queer youth, and perpetuates stereotypes of the queer community. Let's talk about advertising and its impact on masculinities (because the tide now envelops men AND women). How about femininity – I think it has a box just like masculinity, and if you don't fall into it (whether by look or actions or both), you're a "dyke," you'll never "get a man," you're "ugly," you're "fat."

I feel there is so much more to be done on these issues, and no one to do them. If I had the money and the time for the research, I'd try to tackle at least one of these subjects…but in this economy, who is paying to make these films? Yeah…no one.