Masculinity is a topic that has been debated in our society very often. Many wonder what it means to be masculine, and if we can really assign a definition to such a one-sided term. Do individuals' views determine what constitutes masculinity? Masculinity has certain characteristics assigned to it by culture. Men are primarily and secondarily socialized into believing certain characteristics are definitive in determining their manliness and masculinity. These characteristics range from not crying when they get hurt to being and playing violently. The socialization of masculinity in our society begins as early as the first stages of infancy.
             In the video documentary "Tough Guise," Jackson Katz, examines the relationship between the images in pop culture and the social construction of the male identity in the United States – which media plays an extremely large role. The video identifies several cultural developments in the last 30 years that are in part responsible for the current levels of date rape, domestic violence, and school shootings.
             When young men were asked what it meant to be male, most replied to it as being: strong, physical, in control, powerful, athletic, stud, and one that was started more than once was - tough, tough, and tough. Katz also asked that when men don't conform to the role of masculinity what they would be called. These responses were: pussy, bitch, queer, and the inevitable fag. He points out that there is a lot of pressure to conform to the "masculine role" - including and especially men of color and of Hispanic decent.
             Media and the roles they portray are crucial to constraining men to see violent masculinity as the "cultural" norm. There is a growing connection in our society between a man and being violent. He shows statistically (about the violent men) that: 85% of murders are by men, 95% of domestic violence is by men, 99% of rapes in prison are by men, etc. Abused boys tend to grow up t...