Boys in the Hood

The movie Boys in the Hood is loaded with gender issues in relation to masculinities. It displays both positive and dangerous aspects of masculinity. The positive affects include athleticism and self-sufficiency. Athleticism is portrayed through the character of Ricky who although lives the gang life, through football is determined to make something of himself and to succeed outside of the community. For him, football is the way out. Every since a young boy it was his dream and he represents that despite his destitution, he is able to follow what he loves, and work to receive a GPA he is required. The irony comes when his life is ended on the day he attains his goal.
The negative or dangerous masculinities portrayed are violence and fighting. All carrying around guns and weapons, the need to retaliate and appear strong and manly is valued by most of the men in the movie. In the gang culture of South Central LA, a man must be involved in violence, drugs, and sex.
Characters who might be examples of outsiders would be Tre Styles, Tre’s girlfriend Brandi and his father Furious Styles. They would be considered outsiders because Tre for example has lived outside of the area before and has been brought up with his mother, therefore he is not like the other boys in the neighborhood. He also values education and morals that his parents have instilled in him. His rational thinking is what leads him to get out of the car on the way to the killing of Ricky’s murderers. Brandi does not fit the stereotypical role of the teenage girl in the movie because she too values education and wants to pursue college. She also is a strong Christian and therefore sticks to her beliefs in not sleeping with Tre, even when he begs her. Lastly, Furious Styles is the epitome of an “outsider-within” as he, unlike the other fathers, implants in Tre his morals and beliefs. He values safe-sex, pursuing a career, being a dedicated father and avoiding the crime of the area.
This is exemplified when Tre is first dropped off at his fathers and immediately he has his son clean up the leaves in front of the house and to learn to respect and value your possessions as well as how to be responsible. Furious teaches Tre how to run a business and earn a living while also explaining how the Black community must help each other rather than fight against and kill each other. Rather, they must unite and protect each other.
Race plays a large role in this movie as it depicts that because the area of South Central LA is predominantly African American, then it associates all the violence with people of that race. For men, it depicts broken families with the men living in low income areas, alcoholism, drugs, violence, death and a lack of education.
The few women characters portrayed in the film are more passive that ‘active agents’. They are seen more as agents sexually but they do not hold any power positions in the community. An example of this is at the bar-b-que and the guys push in line in front of all the girls and Tre says hold on guys, “Hoes gotta eat too” and one of the replies “I ain’t no hoe” and then Trey says again “Okay, bitch.” This immediately reminded me of the reading “Strong and Large Black Women?” where the stereotype of Black women are big and sassy is discussed. Although none of the girls were “big” there views around food and social values are very representative of what Beauboeuf-Lafontant’s argument about the baggage and adversity Black women carry around on their backs. The girls response to Tre was indicative of her attitude and the different levels of social respect for females.