Masculinity in Steel Magnolias

As I’ve had my go at Feminism in The Hunger Games a few weeks ago, I was definitely interested to voice my opinion on masculinity in movies. This week, Cinema and Society class got me thinking beyond the gender gap but  on the “expectations” we have going in on powerful males, and male feminism through gender socialization. Gender socialization starts at a very early age, where people learn the norms related to sex and gender within a social construction.

            Where the 70’s was an embrace of feminism, the 80’s was definitely the decade where films attempted to “re-masculinize” men. Both movies in comparison are Herbert Ross directed films, one of which was “Play it again, Sam!” (1972, staring Woody Allen) was centered on a the male (feminine, looking for a partner) lead, “Steel Magnolias” (1989) on the other hand, was very feminine but also questioned masculinity. For example, the movie’s opening shot is a women screaming because of male characters shooting at birds while they  are getting ready for a “pink and blush-y” wedding. 

            It was listed as one of the 10 movies that make men cry: “"Steel Magnolias"… is another one of those movies that will just tug at your soft spot. Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, and Sally Field bring on the tears, whether you're a man or a woman.”

 

The Funeral Scene

         

              One of the most poignant quotes is from Sally Field’s character M’Lynn Eaterton, who addresses the divide directly: “I find it amusing. Men are supposed to be made out of steel or something. I just sat there. I just held Shelby's hand. There was no noise, no tremble, just peace. Oh god. I realize as a woman how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life and I was there when she drifted out. It was the most precious moment of my life.”

The idea widely accepted idea for men was that it was only acceptable to cry during a victory. In an article entitled “When is it Okay for a Man to Cry?” by the Art of Manliness (I kid you not, this is what the website is called).

The list names a few:

• Shawshank Redemption (Prison, Victory)
• The Pride of the Yankees (Victory)
• Saving Private Ryan (…)
• Braveheart (Victory)
• Friday Night Lights (Victory)
• We Were Soldiers (I mean…)
• Gladiator (Victory)
• The Champ (Victory)
• Glory (Need I go on?)

And also goes on to list the movies that men should never cry during:

• Steel Magnolias (feminine)
• Little Women (feminine)
• Jerry Maguire (male femininity)
• The Notebook (TEARS to no end) 

 The funny thing is, that it seems second nature to dismiss Steel Magnolias as a movie purely for the enjoyment of women. In an article on the American Politician Cory Booker, Jezbel’s headline reads: “Watching Steel Magnolias Makes Him Cry: Cory Booker is Just like Us.” To which, I conclude that the line between masculinity and feminity is thick, it’s definitely crossed in certain movies. (Or perhaps just a PR strategy to get people to like Cory Booker.) Whichever it is, Steel Magnolias is still an exceptional film (as is everything else Sally Field has appeared in.)

 

Pictures credit: TriStar pictures (Steel Magnolias) and Paramount Pictures (Play it Again, Sam!)

Social Class and 80s Movies

I love 80’s movies. Everything about them is beautiful. Their stories are uncomplicated and contain ideas and situations that directors wish were true.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, E.T and Say Anything are only some of the movies that portray the brilliance of much simpler times. These movies discussed issues that the average American faced. Movies about high school and the angst of being a teenager- social class, misunderstanding with parents and such- but in ways so different from the modern teen movie.

Pretty in Pink, a typical movie about love, high school and social stratification explores a modern day story. Pretty in pink seems be the most perfect example of social conflict. According
to Karl Marx, revolutionary sociologist, class conflict arises from the material things, such as: economic inequality, control over parliament, occupation, education and ownership. The tension between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat was always based on these elements. Pretty in pink portrays this tension successfully between a girl who has grown up in a family that isn't close to being rich, and a boy who has always had everything.

Andie Walsh, (played by the gorgeous ‘Brat Pack’ actress, Molly Ringwald) is a teenaged working-class girl who is obsessed with being rich. Living with her father in a house that she hates, she dreams about being rich. Living in big, fancy houses and wearing expensive clothes- things that she can never afford.

Defining her own style using second hand clothes because she can't afford to buy the expensive ones from the store.

At Andie’s high school, social structure is based on economic class, where the “richies” don’t socialize with those who aren’t as economically well to do. The popular girls make fun of Andie’s clothes, which are secondhand as opposed to their own clothes that are “in season."

As much as Andie hates the preppy kids at her school, she aspires to be like them. She works at a part-time store to earn money so she can design clothes- something that she loves doing. It is at that store, that she meets the boy of her dreams- Blane McDonough. Blane who is sweet, different and interesting also happens to be rich and even better, interested in her!

Meanwhile, her best friend, Duckie, refuses to talk to her because he feels betrayed that she would date someone from a different social group- the group that always mocks them. Andie decides that the loss is inevitable. Blane also faces judgment from his friends who think that Andie and her friends are of less value because of their lower economic standing.

The story follows how Blane and Andie try and overcome the hindrances of their relationship; break the barrier of economic class and learn how to their identity does not come from how much money they have. Truly beautiful.