Tag

Masculinity

All articles tagged with #masculinity

Rigid Masculine Norms Linked to Poorer Mental Health in Men, Study Finds
psychology9 days ago

Rigid Masculine Norms Linked to Poorer Mental Health in Men, Study Finds

A 2016 Journal of Counseling Psychology analysis of 78 studies (nearly 20,000 participants) found men who subscribe to rigid masculine norms and misogynistic attitudes—such as exerting power over women or Playboy-like behaviors—are more likely to report poorer mental health and are less likely to seek treatment, though causality isn’t established. The findings suggest these harmful norms affect men and highlight the need to rethink upbringing to reduce domination beliefs.

Lord of the Flies: a timely Netflix remount reexamines hate, power, and modern masculinity
culture18 days ago

Lord of the Flies: a timely Netflix remount reexamines hate, power, and modern masculinity

BBC Culture argues that William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, a 1954 novel long seen as a microcosm of society, remains strikingly relevant as Netflix debuts a new series by Jack Thorne told from four boys’ perspectives; the adaptation adds backstories and preserves the island’s power struggle to explore themes of evil, order, and masculinity in a troubled world, contextualized by its Cold War origins and ongoing concerns about how youth inherit and mirror adult divides.

Masculine norms tied to bigger climate footprints among wealthy white men
climate20 days ago

Masculine norms tied to bigger climate footprints among wealthy white men

A multi-country study published in Norma: International Journal for Masculinity Studies links masculine norms to larger carbon footprints, driven by travel, meat-heavy diets and high-emission industries, and finds men generally show less concern for climate change and environmental politics than women, though some men are actively working to change these patterns; prior research notes men emit about 26% more pollution than women in transport and food in France, highlighting a gender-based emissions gap.

A Dark, Codependent Bond at the Heart of Half Man
entertainment-television1 month ago

A Dark, Codependent Bond at the Heart of Half Man

The New Yorker’s Inkoo Kang reviews Half Man, HBO/BBC’s drama about Niall and Ruben—two men who call themselves brothers—whose decades‑long, fiercely codependent relationship blends protection, aggression, and sexual tension. Set in Glasgow and driven by time jumps that heighten dread, the series probes internalized homophobia, power dynamics, and self-loathing, anchored by standout performances from Jamie Bell and Richard Gadd. While Ruben’s pathology can feel schematic, Niall’s complex, self-aware arc and the show’s mature take on masculinity carry the narrative toward a tense, emotionally charged meditation on family, desire, and culpability.

Half Man: Provocative at First, Then Didactically Lost
television1 month ago

Half Man: Provocative at First, Then Didactically Lost

Vulture’s review of HBO’s Half Man traces Ruben and Niall’s decades-long, fraught bond as it delves into sexuality, homoerotic tension, and masculinity; the early, transgressive mood is immersive and provocative, but as the brothers grow older the show becomes increasingly didactic and stylized, undermining the chemistry of the leads and leaving bigger questions about toxic masculinity unresolved.

Violence, Power and Identity Converge in Richard Gadd's Half Man
culture1 month ago

Violence, Power and Identity Converge in Richard Gadd's Half Man

Richard Gadd’s Half Man, a non-autobiographical follow-up to Baby Reindeer, stars Gadd as Ruben, a volatile figure who arrives uninvited at his brother’s wedding and drives a brutal, spiraling dynamic with his sibling. The series probes masculine identity and power through graphic violence and emotionally scarred characters, supported by strong turns from Jamie Bell and standout younger actors; it premieres in the US on HBO/HBO Max on April 23 and in the UK on BBC iPlayer on April 24.

From Action Hero to Cultural Meme: Chuck Norris and the Manosphere’s Origins
culture-and-politics2 months ago

From Action Hero to Cultural Meme: Chuck Norris and the Manosphere’s Origins

The article argues Chuck Norris’s career—martial-arts stardom, iconic action films, and the viral Chuck Norris Facts—helped turn him into a participatory cultural idea. This shift fostered an ethos of aggressive, participatory masculinity that prefigured the modern manosphere, linking Norris’s influence to later figures like Andrew Tate; Norris’s death is presented as a reminder of his outsized impact on culture and gender norms.

The High-T Surge: Men chasing testosterone as a lifestyle hack
health2 months ago

The High-T Surge: Men chasing testosterone as a lifestyle hack

A WIRED feature examines a growing “High T” trend where men pursue elevated testosterone through natural diets, supplements, and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), driven by manosphere culture and optimization ethics. Some individuals reach or exceed the upper natural range and report life changes, while medical experts warn of fertility suppression, side effects, and the risk of normalizing unhealthy levels; the piece also situates the phenomenon in broader political and cultural debates about male vitality and identity.

From Slop to Science: The Rise of Boy Kibble
culture3 months ago

From Slop to Science: The Rise of Boy Kibble

After a colonoscopy found benign polyps, food creator Patrick Kong adopted a batch-cooked, macro-focused diet he calls “boy kibble,” a lean, efficient alternative to the internet’s “girl dinner.” The trend—men using protein-forward, calorie-controlled meals to hit fitness goals—is analyzed as a gendered reframing of dieting, reflecting broader cultural conversations about masculinity, nutrition, and optimization, and gaining traction online as fitness influencers shape how meals are prepared and consumed.

Locker Room Barriers Persist: Gay Athletes Struggle in Men’s Sports
sports3 months ago

Locker Room Barriers Persist: Gay Athletes Struggle in Men’s Sports

The HBO Max series Heated Rivalry highlights that, despite some progress, men’s professional sports still stigmatize openly gay players: few active gay athletes exist in major leagues, many come out after retirement, and locker rooms cling to a narrow masculine ideal. The piece contrasts with women's sports where out players are common, cites landmark figures who came out, and notes surveys suggesting growing acceptance, even as incidents and resistance persist. The show has spurred more LGBTQ hockey participation and conversations, but hasn’t yet produced a broad cultural shift in top leagues.