Tomography Never cry or show any emotion, when things happen take it like man, do not get mad, get even. These along with many other rules are makeup “the Guy Code” believed to shape what masculinity in American society. “Brows before Hoes’: The Guy Code” by Michael Kismet discusses a set of epigrams and analyzes American masculinity. These ideals of what is takes to be a “man” are often portrayed by hip-hop artists in today’s mainstream music industry.
Kismet attended many different workshops and high school assemblies asking unsung men in every state “What does it take to be a man? ” and generated what he calls the “Real Guy’s Top Ten List. ” The answers were predictable. Never show any emotion and remain as though everything is in control at all times, losing is not an option when you’re in competition with other men, and kindness will get you nowhere. Real Boys a book by psychologist William Pollack covers these same ideas.
To be a man they cannot be a sissy, or appear to be weak or gay. Masculinity Is measured by your wealth, power, and status. A man remains a “rock” and he Is dependable during crisis. Give the impression that you are daring and aggressive. In Hip-Hop, the lyrics and the rappers usually echo these Ideals. Masculinity is money, power, and respect. Most rappers give off an Image of being “strong” and never showing emotion. Guns and violence is the way to show other men that you are a man that you are powerful and are to be respected.
Rappers boast about their jewelry, their homes, and nice cars and believe that having more money and material objects, and women, than the next man makes you a winner. These Ideas are found in the lyrics of rappers such as Ill’ Wayne and 50 Cent, who are the Ideal stereotypical Image of masculinity In Hip-Hop. Boys are taught to be a man from birth and many of the Ideas of masculinity are instilled in them by their fathers or other male figures In their lives. According to Kismet, homophobia Is the fear of being misperceived as being gay and Is the fear that animates American men’s masculinity (614).
They are taught to be tough and eave a “manly front cover” In everything that they do. If you ask most fathers they would not appreciate their son wearing pink and playing with dolls because It’s “gay” and not masculine. Any sort of display of stereotypical effeminate behavior, dressing nicely, sensitivity, and being emotionally expressive, Is perceived as being gay. If a guy walks, talks, and acts In a manner that Is different from someone who Is gay he will be a man.
In Hip-Hop, the worst thing one can do Is take away someone’s manhood or associate him with anything to do with being feminine or gay by referring to them as a “fagged” or “pitch Amiga”, not only disrespecting the homosexual community but women also. Mine often use the word “fagged” In his when he Is battling someone. It doesn’t necessarily mean gay, It’s Just taking away his opponent’s manhood (612) Hip-Hop artists often portray Images that are “hyper contribute to being mistaken for being gay. Instead, they attempt to be thugs and gangsters.
Misogyny exists not only in Hip-Hop but also in American society as a whole. Objectified female bodies are everywhere: in advertising, on magazine covers, and television and movie screens. In Hip-Hop women are exploited and viewed as objects. In raps they are often called “bitched” and “hoes”, and place them in music videos half-naked furthering the exploitation. A good example of this exploitation is Knells Tip Drill video which showcases and half-naked women parading around dancing explicitly and also features a man sliding a credit card between a woman’s butt cheeks.
As a child, a boy is bombarded with these images and whatever his father caches him about women. How does he learn to respect woman from this? The constant reinforcement of masculinity at from a young age increases bad behavior in young men. The problem with views of masculinity in American society and Hip-Hop is that men spend more time attempting to impress other men, instead of focusing on living their lives for themselves, loving themselves, and using the “l don’t care” mentality taught in masculinity properly. The pressure to be a “man” causes them to become homophobic, misogynistic Jerks.