How Masculinity Affects Everyone

In the last 20 years, masculinity has been redefined. Men now walk Vogue runways in dresses and skirts – clothing items that are typically considered to be more feminine. While these advancements have greatly challenged social gender norms, there are still stereotypes that remain today and are prevalent at Orem High.

“There’s lots of unspoken rules about being masculine in society,” said Jack Fowler, a senior at Orem. “You shouldn’t be expressing your emotions and stuff like that. If you want to fully embrace the masculine side you have to conform with those social norms.”

Plenty of men feel similar to Fowler; they share the feeling of being confined by masculinity in the mental sense, which can be hard to manage in an academic setting. A study done by Green Hill Recovery said, “In schools, male students are often encouraged not to show emotion, and aggression is a sign of power or dominance. These traits may make it difficult for males to communicate with classmates or express themselves without feeling judged.”

Green Hill continues by explaining that these types of mindsets are traits of ‘toxic masculinity’ – a buzz phrase that has become increasingly common today. This phrase may not inherently be harmful, but the effects of an inability to communicate can be.

Put in the female context, masculinity can feel obligatory. Claire McNairy, a junior at Orem, mentions how masculinity affects appearances: “[Dressing masculine] helps people understand that I don’t feel pressured to wear something just because I am a woman,” she said. “I use my mostly masculine presentation to show that I won’t be limited. It’s an encouragement for others not to define me or be sexist towards me.”

Similarly, a workplace setting can have the same masculine presentation in female employees as it does female students. St. Catherine University said, “Managers consistently judged women as having less potential for leadership than their male peers. That means, to advance, women often must significantly outperform men — not simply meet standard qualifications for promotion.”

Whether the environment is academic or corporate, it seems that masculinity is taken more seriously and challenges women to meet certain standards.

McNairy continues: “I don’t like the idea that only masculine attitudes are accepted in society and that people have to change themselves in order to be taken seriously.”
Masculinity has different definitions according to Orem students, but how does that affect perception?

Out of Orem High’s student population of 1500, 52% are male and 48% are female. With an almost even gender ratio, other students don’t feel pressured to present themselves as more masculine

Nova Jones, a senior at Orem, said, “People can dress how they want. It’s about self expression.”