Erin Walker Blog #3

The film Boyz in the Hood focuses to a great extent on the importance of masculinity and expressing these characteristics as an acceptable man.  Although each relationship with the male characters portrays a variation on the perceived positive masculinities, there are several common themes that run throughout the movie.  The most prominent positive masculinity is the characteristic of independence.  Each male is expected to be self-sufficient and take care of situations on his own.  The male also assumes masculinity.  For example, the responsibility a father has for a child he has is emphasized several times.  This message is also reiterated by the fathers reminding their sons to use condoms (which basically implies that the son will be responsible if the woman becomes pregnant).  Males are also socially expected to pursue women.  Perhaps this is another example of the assumed positive masculine behaviors.  Males are also supposed to look out for themselves and defend themselves as well as their friends.  The depiction of African Americans portrays them as uneducated and more violent.  Even the more laid-back African American characters are portrayed as violent.  Women characters are portrayed as passive characters in the film.  Females never drive any of the action in the film and seem to always be byproducts of the action.  The one character that I feel may be an outsider-within may be Tre Styles because he is driven to succeed unlike some of the other counterparts.  Ricky Baker may also be seen as an outsider within because he is driven to succeed in football.