Masculinity is it as simple as we believe it to be?

To be masculine in the traditional sense is to be strong, powerful, dominating

and in control all traits of the hegemonic masculinity. In derogatory words, it
is to be manly or macho (Huffington Post 2015). We see that this definition
has been around for eons now the definitions found in numerous
dictionaries alike as seen in Picture A.

Picture A: Definitions found w hen typing definition of masculinity on Google, 2017

However, as society evolved, and with the uprising of the feminist movement
in the 20th century, these definitions now bring no clarity on masculinity as it
has become a broader term (Van der Walt, M. 2007).

According to Kenneth Clatterbaugh, 1998, (cited by Beynon, J. 2002) he

compares masculinities to several shoes, stating that that their kinds are not
apparent as there are no ready criteria that allows identification of the
different masculinities. He further states that to be a man is biological but
masculinity is something social and historical. It constantly takes into
consideration other distinctions such as race, religion, and age and even
gender.
Out of these distinctions, race is one of the most significant. Throughout
history, this factor has affected so many different facets of the world being
key to socio-political as well as economic changes. It plays a pivotal role in
the study of masculinity, as it creates specifics views of each race.

Black Masculinity is a subdivision of the race factor in gender studies and

originally an observation and study of the characteristics of the African
American man. It is in opposition to White Masculinity (the original hegemonic
construct) and has been defined by enforced racial stereotypes from past
happenings1, media interpretations of race and poverty2 and gender identity
by political leaders (Milton, T.B., n.d.).
These created a culture of negatively perceiving Black Men, boxing them in
the following ways: the aggressor, sexual predators, violent criminals, lazy
workers and intellectually inferior. These notions have been instilled in society
and even today, the constraints presented by them are not easily broken,
even in the black community (University of Pittsburgh, 2012).
Fellow black Men ostracize each when they are anything less then what
society has determined what they must be (Jones, M., 2016).

The inequality of this has created an insurgence of movements to stop the

negativity tied with Black masculinity and allow freedom of individuality and
expression. One such movement that is gaining momentum is the Carefree
Black Boy movement, which redefines the past Black Masculinity. It was first
initiated after the emergence of the Carefree Black Girl movement in 2013
(Jones, D., 2015).

Picture B: By IGGYLDN for his Black Boys dont Cry project

(Buzzfeed, 2016)

1
The coining of savage Africans in the 17th century by European explorers. Slavery followed afterwards and has
been rooted as a big influence of Black masculinity. (Milton, T.B., n.d.).
2
Media played a big role in the 1960s-70s (Civil Rights Era), portraying the black struggle and masculinity as
something to be feared. Presently, it is still the same, often Black Men related to abusing rights e.g. domestic
violence and gangsta culture. (Milton, T.B., n.d.).
Picture B is so relevant to what the Carefree Black Boy movement stands for.
In softened lighting, a group of men stand close to one a nother in front of a
boldly contrasted blue background undressed and with their eyes shut. All
the men are of the Black community however, each has different traits e.g.
skin colour shades, hairstyles, facial features. There is a sense of intimacy
and calmness within the picture, which makes this image strangely unique, as
it doesnt adhere to what is normally associated with Black Men in the media.
In the group setting, the men almost seem to be one, which brings out no
signals of authoritativeness but instead, bromance 1 and equality. The colour
blue adds onto the calmness of the setting and draws our attention to the
subject matter.

This picture was taken as part of a project done by IGGYDLN called Black
Boys Dont Cry. IGGYDLN wanted to deconstruct the ideals of black
masculinity and manhood which is aligned with the values of the Carefree
Black Boy movement. He could see that with the current ideas of masculinity,
there was a lack of positive portrayal of the black man in media as well as the
lack of public show of emotion in the black community (Buzzfeed, 2016).
IGGYDLN is not the only one who believes in this theory, as it has been the
topic of many theories about Black Masculinity. According to Malan van der
Walts dissertation, emotion is not something that is done in the dominant
masculinity. It has been inhibited to preserve masculinity as it is undesirable
and scorned upon (Van der Walt M., 2007).

Through IGGYDLNs project, he had hoped to show the reality of modern

Black Masculinity, instead of one that was constantly being sexualized by past
ideas. The Carefree Black Boy movement creates more space for black men
to explore their self-identity. Instead of the narrative set out for them by
society, the movement showcases freedom and non-conformity to gender
bias. Likewise, to Picture B, diversity is an incredible need for the Carefree
Black Boys as it shows the notion that not one person is the same as the
other (Fwrd, 2016).
They also embrace attributes that a defined as feminine e.g. brim with
emotion, wear atypical clothingcall close friends babe and lover Many
have adopted this redefinition of Black Masculinity, even celebrities such as
Chance the rapper and Frank Ocean in their music that are often associated
as deep and/or soulful. Jaden Smith expresses his own masculinity in his
rebellious, eclectic fashion sense (Wright-Jackson, K., n.d.).

Although Black Masculinity is still rooted in the old ways of society one so
closely linked to western ideals, it has definitely taken a step over the
boundaries that contain men to think and act in certain ways , with movements
such as the Carefree Black Boy as proof. As we move forward in the 21 st
century, we all need to realize that masculinity doesnt only define the
hegemonic man or stereotypical black man, but a man who is allowed to be
himself without societys prejudice.
List of references

Beynon, J., 2002. Masculinities and Culture. [pdf] Open University Press.
Available at: <www.mheducation.co.uk> [Accessed 4 August 2017]

Buzzfeed, 2016. This Striking Visual Project Shows that Blacks Boys Do Cry.
[online]. Available at: <https://www.buzzfeed.com/ikrd/this-powerful-visual-
project-shows-that-black-boys-do-cry?utm_term=.gumYlrWJW#.sj6VQE4m4>
[Accessed 4 August 2017]

Buzzfeed, 2016. This Striking Visual Project Shows that Blacks Boys Do Cry.
Picture B and C [online images]. Available at:
<https://www.buzzfeed.com/ikrd/this-powerful-visual-project-shows-that-black-
boys-do-cry?utm_term=.gumYlrWJW#.sj6VQE4m4> [Accessed 4 August
2017]

Collins, P.H., 2004. Black Sexual Politics. [online] Routledge. Available at: <
https://we.riseup.net/assets/247932/Black-Sexual-Politics-African-Americans-
Gender-And-the-New-Racism.pdf>. [Accessed 4 August 2017]

Cohn, A., 2001. Effects of Masculine Identity and gender role stress on
aggression in men. B.A., University of Virginia. Available at:
<https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/cohn_amy_m_200505_ms.pdf> [Accessed 4
August 2017]

Daily Mail, 2015. Jaden Smith at Coachella. [online image] Available at: <
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3044455/Jaden-Smith-wears-
mini-dress-flowers-hair-Coachella-BFF-Kylie-Jenner-posts-playful-snaps-
music-festival.html> [Accessed 4 August 2017]

Fwrd, 2016. Carefreeblack boys: A progressive movement stolen by

aesthetics.[online]. Available at: <https://medium.com/fwrd/carefree-black-
boys-a-progressive-movement-stolen-by-aesthetics-990c85adfc9f> [Accessed
4 August 2017]

Google, 2017. Definition of masculinity. [online image] Available at:

<http://www.google.com> [Accessed 4 August 2017]

Huffington Post, 2015. This Is What Masculinity Really Means To Men.

[online] Available at: <http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/entry/what-masculinity-
means-to-men_n_6527710> [Accessed 4 August 2017]

Jone, D., 2015. The Struggle To Be A Carefree Black Girl. [online]. Available
at: <http:// www.madamenoire.com/522771/struggle-finding-identity-carefree-
black-girl> [Accessed 4 August 2017]

Jones, M., 2016. Defining Black Masculinity. [online]. Available at:

<https://www.theodysseyonline.com/defining-black-masculinity> [Accessed 4
August 2017].
Milton, T.B., n.d. Class Statues and the Construction of Black Masculinity.
State University of New York. Available at:
<https://ercw.openlibrary.manchester.ac.uk/index.php/ercw/article/view/62>
[Accessed 4 August 2017]

Van der Walt, M., 2007. South African men and their construction of
masculinities in relation to women and homosexual men: A thematic analysis.
University of Cape Town.

Wright-Jackson, K., n.d. How We Partition Black Masculinity. [online].

Available at: <http://www.thefader.com/2016/06/14/carefree-black-men>
[Accessed 4 August 2017]