Real Men

I bet most people reading this will find it unusual to talk about males being portrayed badly in the media because everyone is use to talking about women. But violence committed by males is close to 90%. You’re probably asking yourself why this percentage so high? Well you can blame the media for taking some responsibility in this percentage. Have you ever looked at an ad in a magazine, commercial, movie, or news men are always the “strong, tough, and masculine” person, never an emotional or caring kind of personality. Boys grow up constantly viewing these images or videos showing men acting like this, causing them to then grow up believing that is how they must act as a “man” and if not they are not “Masculine.” When boys grow up they are usually found playing “G.I Joes” or “Cops and Robbers” and most little girls are found playing “House” or playing with “Barbie’s” as girls are taught and constantly shown through media to act gentile and have emotions. This is why I believe the media can change how we ourselves will grow up to act and why when there is a gay boy most people are shocked at how he acts because he is not “tough, mean, or strong” like the media tells us he is suppose to be and we automatically believe it is wrong. I have some ads that show the 5 advertising themes that encourage male violence.

Attitude is Everything.

Young teenagers or men are usually the ones who are targeted with this ad. It wants to show "attitude" as a cool and desirable male trait. I feel like even though this ad doesnt necessarily tell the boy to do something, xbox and video games target a lot of young teens, showing them that fighting in war is masculine and killing other people is a part of life.

The Cave Man Mentality.

In this ad they are using a popular history icon to demonstrate masculinity such as a cowboy. This shows he is a masculine hero who uses their product, therefore making you think if you use their product you will be just as masculine.

The New Warriors.


This ad uses a sports figure to enhance the "manliness" of the product, wanting you to have it to be just like him and masculine. Drinking gatorade will make your more of a man is basically what they are putting into the minds of young boys.

Muscles and the “Ideal Man”.

This theme usually has size and strength traits that are valued by men across class and racial boundaries.They show masucline men with dominance and can control the product being sold. This one is selling an ad for the gym, showing if you go there you can be just as big and masculine as this man.

Heroic Masculinity.

This ad theme usually has a hero in a movie shown as violent and at the same time everyone loves them becasue they save the world. This ad shows how they are tough and protective over the female, have weapons and most likely the heros of the film.