GQ’s New Masculinity

LaBèlla said:

Welcome to GQ's New Masculinity issue, an exploration of the ways that traditional notions of masculinity are being challenged, overturned, and evolved.

Feature article with Pharrell on Evolving Masculinity and Spiritual Warfare

There were gender-fluid elements to the way you dressed long before it became a national conversation.

It started with the “I can pull that off” thing. I wore a lot of Chanel, and I wore tons of Céline. Like, I got all the O.G. Céline. Because they were clothes I could fit in. When you listen to yourself and you're comfortable in who you are, you wear what you feel like fits and looks right on you. And that's it.

Question: What are your thoughts on “new masculinity?” Is it a fad or something deeper?

~Bella

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Well it looks like there has been a Woke changing of the guard of that magazine!

To tell you the truth this seems like a postmodern retread of the stuff going on in the Counter Culture, where we saw things like unisex hairstyles, garments, the first "experimentation" with folks trying out same sex relationships as an alternative life style (especially as depicted in works like "Hair"), and lots of questioning of "tradition" in favor of dabbling into all kinds of stuff.


While I think it is bad, not all of it is. I've been watching a lot of videos on narcissism in light of a friend divorce being married to an abusive wife who seems to fit that profile, but watching some of the videos I ran across a number of videos that didn't fit his situation but fit some of the other ones I've seen in my life (regarding male narcissists). Anyway their is a great quote from one of her videos. Anyway she mentions she could write a book on Narcissism entitled "How to be a Man in Today's World and Succeed"!

Her point somewhat resonates with me; since I come from the opposite of that as far as my personality etc. Anyway she mentions how we as a culture don't value empathy in men etc.

LaBèlla said:

I can’t say that’s true. Male expression is varied but many have little interest in becoming women or behaving like them either.

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Really depends on what "masculine" and "feminine" is. Just because a man may have some feminine hardwiring doesn't mean he acts like a stereotypical feminine guy. I personally suspect men like Adolf Hitler may have had some female hardwiring.. lol.

I knew a trans man when I was younger. They were more prevalent than women. The latter could be butch lesbians instead. And even in homosexual relationships there is a masculine and feminine energy. That’s more commonplace than both behaving the same.

~Bella

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More prevalent than trans-women? That hasn't been my experience. I've only encountered handful of trans-men in my time. You could argue that more women identify as gender fluid such as bigender and the like. Although I'd argue most of them are just hyper feminine and are looking to be viewed as special/oppressed. Heck the few trans-men I knew acted hyper feminine. While trans-women tend to act overly feminine.

When men question their gender they seem to go to more extremes and seem to be more genuine.

bekkilyn said:

If true, I wonder if it's because men are currently more repressed when it comes to expressing themselves through fashion. Women can get away with wearing just about anything and not be censured since women are expected to be into subjects like fashion, make-up, hairstyles, etc., but men are much more rigidly boxed in in the 21st century west unlike in the past where they often wore things like lace and powdered wigs and kept up with Parisian styles, etc. (At least the more well-to-do)

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I think it has to do with biology. Especially our psychological idea that men are more disposable than women. We probably find it more egregious when a man acts feminine compared to when a woman acts masculine, because we feel like the man is trying to abstain from his responsibilities of protecting women.

This all goes down to cues, regardless if they have merit or not. For example a man who likes wearing dresses may preform his masculine duties than a man who does not. But still, the first man will be highly suspect.

Well you know, expect when a man is in a higher social class. Where the idea of viewing a man as less disposable is probably more agreeable with our evolved psychological states. We're not necessarily expecting the king to lay down his life and die like we would with the common man.

LaBèlla said:

Holy smokes!



Now that’s eye candy!

Do you think women are into the idea GQ’s promoting?

~Bella

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I find it doubtful....

Men wear what women find sexy....that's the general trend. I don't see a lot of women clamoring for men dressed this way. I suppose we'll see.

LaBèlla said:

....Why?

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Yes, why do I think its good that the overall cultural middle is angling slightly away from gender all-importance?

Its good because people dont always fit into those two neat little boxes. Some people do. I do. But many dont. And its high time we stopped mashing square or triangular people through round shaped holes to their detriment, and ours really.

LaBèlla said:

This is one crazy avalanche!

I understand the argument for self-expression. But flipping my gender and calling myself Beau is crossing the line.

~Bella

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Hey, I didn't build it! My buildings don't collapse.

Yeah, that would be the worst. There's absolutely nothing wrong with self-expression. However, if it becomes a vehicle behind a movement to control and redefine traditional norms based on subjective ideals, especially on a large scale, I would say that's crossing the line.

LaBèlla said:

That would depend on who’s standard you’re following. I don’t have the liberty of doing as I wish and serve the Lord. Being conformed to Him is the goal.

~Bella

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God is not going to create someone with one spirit and then force them to permanently live and behave under the yoke of an entirely different spirit, but that's what gender conformity does to many people. Replaces the spirit that God gave to them uniquely with an oppressive yoke that is nothing like what he created them to be.

Male and female is basic biology. Masculine and feminine are cultural constructs.

LaBèlla said:

Welcome to GQ's New Masculinity issue, an exploration of the ways that traditional notions of masculinity are being challenged, overturned, and evolved.

Feature article with Pharrell on Evolving Masculinity and Spiritual Warfare

There were gender-fluid elements to the way you dressed long before it became a national conversation.

It started with the “I can pull that off” thing. I wore a lot of Chanel, and I wore tons of Céline. Like, I got all the O.G. Céline. Because they were clothes I could fit in. When you listen to yourself and you're comfortable in who you are, you wear what you feel like fits and looks right on you. And that's it.

Question: What are your thoughts on “new masculinity?” Is it a fad or something deeper?

~Bella

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The goal of the change in masculinity and femininity is to lead to androgyny - i.e. a fad, and also "something bigger."

LaBèlla said:

What does that entail in your opinion?

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Hitler strikes me as an emotional/sensitive guy who was probably high on the empathy spectrum. Even his contemporaries like Mussolini complained that he was too sentimental.

How does that work? Are you flipping between the two?

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Some report to feeling like a man one day and the woman the next. Even though from what I see they act like hyperfeminine women regardless. Most are drawn to feminism. Which glorifies the broken damsel and encourages white knight stoic behavior from men. They don't even really take that role. They just complain about toxic masculinity and use their trans status to prove that they're treated better as men. Even though they probably are not treated as roughly as cis men are due to them still being small and highly neotenous. Which studies show that cis men (except for African men) can benefit from looking neotenous and get the more gentle treatment.

The few transmen who do pass as rough looking men tend to have a less optimistic view about being a man in society.

I can’t keep up with all of this! The trans people I’ve encountered overly emphasized the other gender. It was overdone like a production.

I always felt they were trying to prove themselves. But I’ve seen the same elsewhere. Most want to be accepted.

~Bella

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Yeah, I agree that they're out to prove themselves. Insecurity and all that. Not saying I blame them for feeling that way. Just wonder why there seems to be a stark difference from my experience with trans-women compared to trans-men.

MehGuy said:

Hitler strikes me as an emotional/sensitive guy who was probably high on the empathy spectrum.

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Hitler was allegedly INFJ...

if you have to put a concerted effort into changing something natural into something unnatural you have to keep it going to keep it from righting itself.

iluvatar5150 said:

Most of what we define as gender roles and everything to do with fashion has been created by man, not God.

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Source?

LaBèlla said:

Welcome to GQ's New Masculinity issue, an exploration of the ways that traditional notions of masculinity are being challenged, overturned, and evolved.

Feature article with Pharrell on Evolving Masculinity and Spiritual Warfare

There were gender-fluid elements to the way you dressed long before it became a national conversation.

It started with the “I can pull that off” thing. I wore a lot of Chanel, and I wore tons of Céline. Like, I got all the O.G. Céline. Because they were clothes I could fit in. When you listen to yourself and you're comfortable in who you are, you wear what you feel like fits and looks right on you. And that's it.

Question: What are your thoughts on “new masculinity?” Is it a fad or something deeper?

~Bella

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Huh. That's a strange one to me. I read their articles online a fair bit on account of how they're often linked elsewhere. Like that they cut to the chase, are blunt.

I can't say I care much how other fellows want to define their masculinity. I'm more uh traditional with mine than that fellow in the picture. I wouldn't mind having whatever that he's wearing for overnight fishing and hunting trips to stay warm when camping, lol. I don't know how he walks in that but looks like it'd be comfy to sleep in.

Handmaid for Jesus said:

ROFLOL. You are cracking me up over here!

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I am glad to make you laugh.

Go Braves said:

Huh. That's a strange one to me. I read their articles online a fair bit on account of how they're often linked elsewhere. Like that they cut to the chase, are blunt.

I can't say I care much how other fellows want to define their masculinity. I'm more uh traditional with mine than that fellow in the picture. I wouldn't mind having whatever that he's wearing for overnight fishing and hunting trips to stay warm when camping, lol. I don't know how he walks in that but looks like it'd be comfy to sleep in.

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Maybe someone rolls him up and attaches him to a backpack and he just directs them to wherever he needs to go!