Male Gender Roles Essay Example

aiming for humor. However, it is crucial to acknowledge their sociological significance. Films like Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin have portrayed males in an overtly sexualized manner, associating masculinity with sex. Consequently, this puts immense pressure on teenage boys who may feel that abstaining from sexual activities will lead to unpopularity or being labeled as homosexual.

According to a survey conducted by Seventeen magazine, 78% of the 1,200 men aged 15 to 22 who were interviewed believe that there is excessive societal pressure to engage in sexual activities. The survey also revealed that 60% of these men admitted to lying about something related to sex, and out of those, 30% confessed to lying about their own sexual experiences. These findings indicate that movies portraying immature and sexually active men can have a negative impact on the self-esteem of young individuals. It is crucial for society to put an end to perpetuating the stereotype that boys who choose not to participate in sexual discussions or activities are not real men. The theme of male friendship is prominently explored in man-child films like Superbad, which features teenage characters.

Seth and Evan, best friends in the film, are about to finish high school and are eager to explore alcohol and sex before college. Through most of the movie, their friendship follows typical stereotypes as they constantly talk about immature topics like women, parties, and drinking. However, towards the end, they overcome obstacles in their friendship and have a remarkably vulnerable moment where they admit their love for each other. This scene, lasting only sixty seconds, is extraordinary as it is rare to see such honest emotions between heterosexual

men in films.

Male vulnerability is often seen as a weakness in society, leading boys to be taught to hide their emotions from an early age. Jonah Hill, who portrays Seth in the film, personally witnessed this phenomenon when showing the movie at colleges. He shared, "The kids went crazy. But then, during the sleeping-bag scene, when Michael and I express our love for each other, those same kids squirmed in their seats in a strange way." These uncomfortable reactions from the audience confirm that societal conditioning has made us uneasy when faced with male vulnerability, and the movie industry must take some responsibility for this.

It is encouraging to see a film, particularly a comedy, willing to confront a stereotype deeply embedded in our culture. The film dares us to rethink the significance of vulnerability in male friendships.