Portrayals of Masculinity in “Guy Movies”

Abstract

Masculinity, an expression of sexual identity, is typically considered the enactment of male identity. The current analysis is a deductive summative content analysis of three popular “guy movies” using the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI). Results indicated that Emotional Control, Risk-Taking, Violence, and Dominance were the most frequently represented CMNI factors. Winning, Self-Reliance, Playboy, Primacy of Work, Power Over Women, Disdain for Homosexuals, and Pursuit of Status were significantly less frequently displayed. Analysis of the four salient factors indicated that these qualities can be conceptualized as positive and prosocial masculine norms. This suggests that “guy movies” earn that title not because they display gratuitous and stereotypical masculinity but because they allow the viewer to identify with the positive qualities of his own masculinity. The concept of viewer–character dissonance is proposed as a possible explanation.