Some institutions encourage the thought of gender difference and gender order. A primary example is the music industry, specifically rappers. More and more rappers are releasing music with lyrics that are demeaning to women. As said in the documentary, a majority of men objectify women. Unfortunately, this mindset has been embedded into many societies. Many women who have been victims of abuse or harassment are scared to open up because they feel as though no one will believe them. Susan Brison was attacked by a man and was not believed when she told other people what happened. They just told her she must have been hit by a car. With many institutions having this type of mindset, it seems as though the violent actions and objectification of women is being condoned instead of being condemned.

In Kimmel’s article, he goes into depth about plural masculinities. This term is used to demonstrate that different groups in society define masculinity differently. He prefers using this word since there is not one fixed definition that fits everyone’s beliefs. Kimmel’s four main arguments are: “masculinities vary across cultures” (1), “definitions of masculinity vary considerably in any one country over time” (1), “definitions of masculinity change over the course of a person’s life” (2), “the meanings of masculinity vary considerably within any given society at any one time.” (2) In the documentary, the cast members explain how in America’s society, men are raised to be the strong ones. They are taught that the only tolerable emotion to show is anger and trained to be the protectors of the family. Although most people do associate this to masculinity, Justin Baldoni and Lewis Howes express the importance of being able to open up and understand people. We see in their reflection that over time their perspectives of masculinity changes based on their past experiences and things they have witnessed.

Michael Kimmel states that gender is a social construct whereas one is born with sex, for this is biological. Kimmel further indicates that gender is conditioned by one’s environment, and that it is a product of our daily interactions. Certain institutions propagate the classical view of masculinity that encompasses all or any of the characteristics that were written of in Blog 3. Man Enough Episode 4, #MeToo, refers to the entertainment business being a vehicle for the message of classical masculinity. As Scooter Braun says, “We glorify the idea of crossing the line. We’ve made it, you know, you come into the entertainment business, fast cars, fast women”. As he points out, this ideology is built upon the objectification of women, as items to obtain once one gets into the entertainment business. Furthermore, the institution of society and the justice system perpetuate the classical view of masculinity and the objectification of women. As Yazmin Watkins remarks, “I think the culture that we live in allows for this sort of behaviour and I don’t think people are supported when they do come forward “. Furthermore Susan Brison furthers this point when she tells how people did not believe that she had been attacked by a man, and thought instead that she was hit by a car, when she was in fact brutally attacked by a man.

Kimmel prefers to use the term ‘masculinities’ rather than singular ‘masculinity’ because he feels that there are different varieties of masculinity, thus the characteristics he outlines. In Man Enough Episode 4, #MeToo, Justin Baldoni indicates to Susan Brison that boys are taught to be the protector. This is indeed one characteristic of masculinity. Susan Brison argues that this is part of the problem because women should be taught to defend themselves instead of relying on men. All of the men at the table have had completely different experiences, they simply do not fit under the same umbrella of maculinity. Furthermore, Michael Kimmel claims that the only factor that remains constant in masculinities is anti-femininity, and masculinities can be of wide variety, changing across time periods, in a state of flux, as long as they include anti-femininity.