Tough Guise - Josephine Bingler

The documentary, Tough Guise, focuses on how media encourages violence in men and socially constructs masculine ideals that men are forever trapped and trying to live up to. These masculine ideals force men to put on a mask in order to gain the admiration of others usually through acts of violence, establishing their dominance, control, and power. In one of the previous posts, someone brought up the show "Caged" on MTV. This show caused a lot of stir in my town and is still on air. "Caged" is filmed in small southern town in Louisiana, very close to mine. The reality show is based on guys fighting against each other in order to make their parents proud and prove themselves. In the commercials for this show, the male narrator says, "For these modern day gladiators, every day is a fight to break free from the past, to find their future. It's their change to turn their lives around, and an opportunity to stand up and fight to make something of themselves". Some have called is Teen Mom with less babies and more blood and in many in my town said it's about time there was a male version of a TV reality show. The fact that people consider a "male" reality show one based on violence, speaks to the nature of our society that we've created and continue to fuel. One of the boys on the show says there's nothing to do in Shreveport, Louisiana except "drink, get laid and beat some guys up". We look at this as entertainment and we celebrate the moment one of the boys knocks out the other. The show is a celebration of dominance and power. Thousands tune into this show every Monday and watch young boys beat each other bloody but we justify our viewing by saying it's just a sport and it's entertaining! Our society has become desensitized to violence. Our culture tells us you become a man through power and control. In order to change the insane pressure to perform masculinity, we must change the definition of manhood. We must change the notion of gaining respect by disrespecting another person.