Here at Masc, many of us have been looking at how maleness is constructed within social realms like television, toys, radio, and among physical traits like body and voice. Our blogs revolve around challenging norms associated with the ideals of masculinity and how these ideals affect our relations with the self and others.

What strikes me as odd is a strict adherence to the idea of maleness equaling masculine/masculinity. Masc states that it “…encourages expression and connection on a range of men's issues such as gender, stereotypes, sexuality and health.”  Gender is not the same as our biological sex. That being said, masculinity is not restricted to biological men, but must be discussed in reference to the entire masculine (whether identifying in whole or in parts) gender spectrum-- butch and/or female masculinity, genderqueers, transgendered, cisgendered, and all forms of self-identity. Moreover, issues such as race, class and sexuality MUST inform our critiques when approaching the subject of masculinity.

I call for a more radical way of speaking of masculinity and gender. To continue in a normative way is to privilege the existing male and female binary and reinforces traditional power structure. To look at masculinity in all its gender spectrum glory allows for a growth and understanding unparalleled than just an examination of the XY. A radical approach to masculinity ensures a freer realm of expression and a more egalitarian approach for people regardless of gender identity, orientation, class or race.

For more information on a radical approach, check out editor Trevor Hoppe's Beyond Masculinity.

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Robert Vitulano is a critical scholar and artist. You catch my photography on Flickr.