Thoughts on Maturing and Escaping pt. 2
Why Representation Matters
For as long as I can remember, I have never really done well with pursuing a traditional sense of masculinity. For the most part, I walked away from that experience with deep, constant insecurities about my body and “toughness.” (It is astounding that the ‘dad bod’ is praised in places on social media.)
Instead, when I think of my earlier years and struggling to understand myself, I found solace in my studies while majoring in English in college. I would readily admit I took those studies maybe too seriously, but I do also believe that course of study helped me to arrive at a more authentic way of being.
There, I had the models of all the poets and writers. These were men who were praised for their skill in expression, and this contrasted strongly against the ideas I found in places like Men’s Health Magazine, etc of cold, refined strength. I latched on to this difference, and I believe it is a major reason who I am today.
The basic contradiction that men are strongest when not showing emotions was always defeated by the evidence that men were also praised for their artistic expression.
It is this reasoning that clarifies how important it is to “see yourself in the media,” as it is often said today.
It matters, for who were these writers? The tradition of English-language literature mostly highlights the achievements of men who where also white and heterosexual. Everyone else outside of that 3-part setup was only ever understood to be an authority on “being gay” or “being Black.” In a word, limited. If a writer hit the 3-part setup, their work was allowed to be considered as something “universal” or “era-defining” (Great Gatsby, anyone?).
I state this directly now: I know representation in the media is significant because I benefited from those who are already represented there.
Seeing another model of life, that was a direct challenge to what I saw everywhere else, was a life jacket keeping me afloat in the struggle of becoming. Or even also a lighthouse, leading towards becoming someone who could take courage in being a tenderhearted, not hardhearted, person.
And so when I hear issues about representation in the media, (e.g. the Golden Globes, etc.), I want to affirm that question as a serious thing. It is. Why should only I have the life-changing structure of celebrated art to help me escape from becoming a person I didn’t want to be?
From media to management, representation matters.
More soon,
Trevor