Film: Tough Guise Tough Guise

Film: Tough Guise

Tough Guise

The film, Tough Guise gives detailed information on the behavior of males and how they are expected and sometimes encouraged to act in a certain way. What the term implies is that males are supposed to be tough and macho and even if they are not, they should put on a disguise to make it seem as though they are so they will not be considered weak by other males. The narrator of the film does a good job of showing and telling the audience how race and class play into the creation of the tough guise image. Many white, suburban males get their idea of what being a tough male is considered by the videos and images they see of African-Americans and Hispanics on television and in the media. Although many of them have not lived a life that resembles that of an urban ghetto, they still put on the act to protect their image. However, the narrator tells us that many of the black and Hispanic males get their image of what toughness means from mafia movies featuring white, Italian males.

Many men feel it necessary to pretend to be tough and put on this image because our society tells us in so many different forms that being tough and macho are what being a man is about. Many parents start giving their sons toy guns to play with at a very young age. Boys are encouraged to play sports that are male dominated such as football, baseball and basketball. In urban neighborhoods, the more scars a male has from street scuffles means gives him a reputation of being hard or manly and tough.

The tough guise has a lot to do with why males commit more crimes than females. Males are conditioned from birth knowingly and unknowingly to play the tough role. If a male does not act macho is some type of way, he is considered weak by others and will more than likely be picked on by other males. The statistics from the film give evidence that the crimes committed by men far outweigh those committed by women. What's disturbing is that many of the crimes committed by males are considered violent crimes and many of them are against women.

Women do play some role in the promotion of the tough guise image. Whether they would like to admit it or not, most women's idea of a man is one that is strong, macho and protective of them. The saying that, 'Nice guys finish last' has some truth to it. Many women look over the shy, quiet type of man because of the images they have seen in the media and in everyday life. This type of man has no appeal because he is seen as a pushover and the women feel that he could not protect and care for them the way a tough guy could.

The film covered several aspects of the reasoning behind the tough guise. He discussed how the image in perpetuated in young boys almost from the day they are born. He covered how the image plays out along racial and class lines. The fact that he showed several different males who seemed to be from various backgrounds giving practically the same answer to why males have to be tough gave evidence and sort of validated what the entire film was about.