The "Cult of Hardness"

-Mary Beth

       Chapter 2 of Susan Bordo's, The Male Body, opens up a number of different discussions pertaining to male sexuality. One particular idea that struck me was the "cult of hardness." The name applies to the sense that "being exposed as "soft" is one of the worst things a man can suffer from in this culture." Thus, not only are men going to great lengths to stay hard in their pants, but they're hitting the gym in order to appear "hard" to society.
        Five times a week I walk into the gym and see men pumping iron right and left. Granted, they are already physically fit, but continue to push their bodies in fear of losing their Greek God physique. This is undoubtedly a cultural phenomenon. Boys learn at a young age, normally during puberty, that being small and soft is undesirable. Just as young girls fear gaining weight for social reasons, young boys fear appearing weak, soft, and small. "For neither girls nor boys is this just about "looking good. It's about developing a body that makes one feel safe, respected, in control."
          Parents often encourage their young boys to "toughen" or "harden" up. "Tough men" are the cultural preference in today's society, and many boys want to live up to this standard in order to make their families proud. Their is also an evolutionary component to the phenomenon. The bigger and more muscular, the manlier and more desirable. In turn, desirability increases chances of reproduction.
          Culturally speaking, "a hard body is a "take no shit" body," and that is exactly how men desire themselves to be viewed. Hitting the gym is one way to conform to the cult of hardness. Next time you see men filling the gym, consider the fact that instead of being shallow meat heads, he may just be terrified of appearing "soft."