Masculinity Fail

I must first state my reasons for sharing this clip and say that it is not in any way to poke fun or exploit the homosexual or those who possess "homosexual qualities" but are in fact, heterosexual. While I find this clip hilarious, I think is more based around this man's mannerisms and way of speech than it is around his assumed "gayness." Though while watching the clip (and laughing absent-mindedly) we must realize where this man--and the larger situation--belongs in the discourse around non-traditional lifestyles in modern-day America.

In looking at this clip, it's hard not to analyze current gender roles in America and why this video is in fact called "Masculinity Fail." We know that hundreds of thousanda of American men "fail" at masculinity by cultural standards everyday. The point of the video is that a young man, who looks Indian or of Eastern decent, is being filmed doing his job as a weatherman. At first, we hear him speak a little bit about rainfall. At this point, you can barely tell that he sounds more feminine thatn most men or is gay at all. Soon, though, he covers his mouth, gasps, lets out a little squeal, stifled moan, and then says "I am so sorry, Bill. OH MY GOD! Ahhh, this is what just happened, that thing was craaawlin' on my leg..." The next part is funnier, of course, when we realize that "it" is a cockroach, and 3 hours later, it is yet again plauging our weatherman with fear. This time he is in the middle of a segment and we hear him say, "Oh God, if that...OH MY GOD THERE IT IS! Oh shit, oh my God, ohh noooo..."

Maybe this is only funny to me because it would be pretty close to my reaction if a roach was cruisin' up my leg. Maybe it's funny to others because this man is seen as very flamboyant and clearly "out of the norm." However, the interest in this clip is in the fact that while women can act that way around bugs and roaches and spiders, men definitely cannot. Any real man would have used his Italian leather loafer to bust that roach in a second. Our guy can't even be in the room without shreiking a little to let his fears known. In American culture, this gives us the right to point, laugh, and make fun of his lifestyle. Not cool.