Tough Guise Film Review

1 What is the main thesis of this film? The “Tough Guise” is mainly about understanding violent masculinity in the United Sates. It seems that the film is about men violence in the society and how it is of a huge deal in the film.

2. What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
Some of the main points that support this claim the men and how are they become the dominance group and why the society don’t do any things about that. It is clear that men do participate in all violence most of the times simply to show their masculinity. For example, one of the men did just punch a man and show all kind of domestic violence. Finally, the individuals in the movie were doing anything it they can to scare those who are not more masculine.
3. How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
This course is all about social deviance, and how people perceive men as a dominance gender in the society. I think this film is related to the course in way how we construct gender violent in the society. One gender becomes more dominance than other in term of violence.
“Tough Guise” film made me thinks of how the world is rule today. It is really about man power, who is strong and who is not. It also reminds me of the Conflict Theory by Richard Quinney which we talked about in the class lecture.  In the Conflict theory, powerful have influence on how laws are mad. The “Shame, Guilt and Violence” by James Gilligan is related to Tough Guise because young man engaged in a risky behavior. For example, young man shows his masculinity just because someone does not respect him. Because of showing aggressive behavior by pointing a gun to someone for no good reason, he got put in jail. When he was investigated, he said that he wanted people to respect him.  

4. Which arguments/points did you find the most convincing? 
Some of the most convincing points in the film were the attitudes of the gentlemen in the film. I got convince that men show their hegemonic masculinity and nature that help them to survive when they got into a fight or attack. Getting tougher make men to control things such as resources and win many victories all over the globe. For example, Katz asked young men what it meant to be male and they all replies like, strong, physical, and independent, in control, powerful, athletic, tough, tough, tough, stud. I am convincing that “Tough Guise” is about understanding violent masculinity. I also think that violence is a part of life. However, the bad thing about violence is when people in a particular society turn toward one another for no good reason. The article in Reading in Deviant Behavior by Kimmel and Mahler also is related to the film because it about violence of what caused the school shooting; young boys want to show who they are. The authors explain that young boys were causing more violence in the society. Those young boys want to show their masculinity and aggressive to those people who don’ think that they are real men.  

5. Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?  I am not really convinced when Katz argued that men violent are not serious as of women. I didn’t think of any serious violent that were women got paid more attention. I disagree when he argued that violence harm people and therefore it should be stop at all. Violence is something that exists in human nature that is why we have rules in place.  
6.   What is the point that most stands out for you from the film. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the film to my understanding. This is how men all around the world act. Hegemonic masculinity is accepted by the communities and that is why men committed more crimes than women. According to the film, some people like President Ronald Reagan had supported the idea of masculinity; and John Wayne plays a role in supporting to develop the rise of the tough guy role. It was not a surprise to me to learn that 85% of murders and 99% of rapes and 95% of domestic violence are committed by men. But that doesn’t mean that men are all criminals, murders or rapists, but to understand hegemonic masculinity. Finally, “Tough Guise” reminded me how I used to act when I was a teenager in South Sudan. I remember that time everything was about competition and power in the group. And if you don’t act like a man, peer will consider you as weak, emotional and girly. But in this culture, they call men who did not acquired masculinity as emotional, fag, bitch, and queer. Hegemonic masculinity exists cross-culturally in all societies such as in small scales and larger societies.

Sources: Michael S. Kimmel & Matthew Mahler 2003. “Adolescence Masculinity, Homophobic, and Violence” American Behavioral Science, by Sage publications,Inc.

James Gilligan, 2003 “Shame, Guilt and Violence”. Social research vol. 70. No. 4 (2003)
Calhoun, C. Thomas, Conyers, Addrain & Thio, Alex. 2010. Reading in Deviant Behavior: Boston, MA:  person education, Inc publishing Allyn & Becon print.