FHM magazine and its representations of gender.
This paper will be discussing the changing nature of masculinity due to the declining dominance of man within society. Stating how new forms of masculinity are derived due to these cultural changes and the delivery of such ideas through aspects of the media. For Him Magazine will be specified, as this constitutes a new form of masculinity regarded as "laddish culture", an article in the magazine will also be analysed to show how it is written within the context of the magazine.
Masculinity is bound by historic, cultural, economic and political conditions and must therefore be related to the development of the gender order (Baron, B, 2001, p153). Patterns of masculinity reinforced in the history of male dominance, affect man's mode of thinking; being a man therefore is part of a distinct social practice. A man must express his dominance by offering different forms of masculinity, as appropriated by the current trend of culture. Masculinity has many forms of expression and appears to be evolving as women have become more powerful in society. Women's rise in the hierarchical structure of society has questioned mans concept of masculinity, as the dominance of man declines. Feminism has created an awareness of women's rights resulting in a closer equilibrium of power between genders. Man's struggle to reclaim dominance creates new forms of masculinity to counteract the cultural change.
The physical appearance of man was the true form of masculinity, like phallic symbolism, size connotes power. A man dresses in a "macho fashion", creates a gym-enhanced body and therefore declares his "macho-ism". This however appears to be a contradiction of the "real man", admitting that his body is an asset for social integration is the traditional position of the female (Mackinnon, K, 2003, P5). New forms of masculinity have to be created, for man to keep his dominance.
