As I dove deeper into the world of
female masculinity, the more I understood that female masculinity in itself has
many different faces. Unlike the idea of a masculine man or a feminine woman
who are easily described and characterized; female masculinity fails to be so
cut and dry. This is what should be expected when you take two complete
opposite gender identities and have an attempt on combining them into one.
There are just so many small details from the identities of masculine men and
feminine women, that simple will not allow for there to ever be an easy
definition of a masculine female. There will always be a noted difference
between definitions from multiple people. This is could also be due to that
female masculinity is still coming on to its own. Even though its not a new
identity, it is definitely one that is gaining a following and attention.
With the world of female masculinity
gaining attention around young women, it is also gaining the attention of men.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the greatest business quote of all time, “Sex Sells”.
This is true, it’s a play on one of our most animal like instincts. It’s no
surprise to see that the idea of female masculinity is being taken advantage of
by the media and Hollywood. It’s the practice of taking the “Attractiveness”
from the concept of “gender body performance”, to sell the idea of how “sexy”
masculine females can be. Here are some
examples of female masculinity at Hollywood’s best.
Here are some
interviews I conducted to see, what are some of the personal views of women to
the identity of female masculinity and how it is then portrayed in Hollywood.
Taylor Hussey
Q) What’s your personal view of a masculine female?
A) Nothing wrong with it. I think it’s a wonderful thing to
step away from traditional gender expectations.
Q) How do you yourself see these types of women, and how do
you think Hollywood portrays masculine women?
A) I see them as a step forward in equality and as proof
that there shouldn’t be gender expectation. Everyone likes what they like.
Hollywood is starting to portray some more masculine women by making them
action heroes but most of the time the women are helpless or are unrealistic
portrayal of women.
Q) Do you think that some f their views of masculine woman
are a bit tilted towards a male fantasy?
A) To some degree. Whenever Hollywood give you a “masculine
woman”, she is often an action hero. But it is their job to create fantasy
worlds and bring them to life.
Jamie Briske
Q) What’s your personal view of a masculine female?
A) A woman that breaks the norms of society of how a woman
should act and behaves more like the norms of a man in the society in which a
person lives in.
Q) How do you yourself see these types of women, and how do
you think Hollywood portrays masculine women?
A) In simple terms a “tom boy”, for instance the movie Calamity
Jane would be a good example of how Hollywood depicts masculine women
Q) Do you think that some f their views of masculine woman
are a bit tilted towards a male fantasy?
A) I would say somewhat because women are extremely photo
shopped and presented in a certain way to stimulate males. For an example, Xena
the Warrior Princess had an outfit that showed her features off.
Jordan Eberhardt
Q) What’s your personal view of a masculine female?
A) To me masculine women are not actually masculine, they’re
androgynous. I think they’re viewed as manly because of the expectation for
women to be girly.
Q) How do you yourself see these types of women, and how do
you think Hollywood portrays masculine women?
A) As men with vaginas and boobs mostly, like really butch. One-dimensional
and not complex.
Q) Do you think that some f their views of masculine woman
are a bit tilted towards a male fantasy?
A) Perhaps, in that all capacity for emotional vulnerability
is replaced by impulsiveness and a “manly man” attitude. It plays on stereotypical
views of men too.
Michelle Pineda
Q) What’s your personal view of a masculine female?
A) I think every female has a masculine side. No big deal. I
play sports and work out.
Q) How do you yourself see these types of women, and how do
you think Hollywood portrays masculine women?
A) Sometimes they over play it I think. There’s a stigma
with lesbians and masculinity. But not every girl is “girly”.
Q) Do you think that some f their views of masculine woman
are a bit tilted towards a male fantasy?
A) Sure, got to play to what appeals to the audience... right?
Rae Novich
Q) What’s your personal view of a masculine female?
A) I think a masculine woman is fine, good for them for
being good at sports! I think body builders are a little scary though, both men
and women. No one needs to obsess that much over their body.
Q) How do you yourself see these types of women, and how do
you think Hollywood portrays masculine women?
A) Hollywood can portray them as lesbians or “burly women” I
think, they have a kind of negative connotation.
Q) Do you think that some f their views of masculine woman
are a bit tilted towards a male fantasy?
I highlighted some answers that
were given that sparked my interests. It is easy to see a common bond between
most of the answers; especially in answers pertaining to Hollywood’s portrayal
of masculine women and the male fantasy.
In conclusion, our societal culture agrees with the
concept of “Gender as Body Performance” and its “Attractiveness” section. The
women interviewed know about the problems with how attractiveness is slowly
morphing itself into the female masculinity culture. The way Female masculinity will be shaped into our culture will depend on women. If it is not claimed, then it will just become another fantasy or stereotype lost in society.
The only example to date that I’ve
seen from Hollywood about a masculine female not relying on men or in a skimpy
outfit has been from the movie Haywire. Here is the trailer and pay close
attention to her clothes and the quote at the end of the trailer starting from
minute 1:06. One of the best quotes ever from an amazing movie.
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