Masculinity In Hip Hop Culture

Manhood in western societies is pre-programmed, pre-packaged and forced-fed to boys from birth to adulthood. Historically the purest example of a real man was the military standard. Military manliness dictates that a man must be strong, both physically and mentally, a man must be unfeeling and must be loyal to their fellow comrades. Military manhood favors the heterosexual man and believes that he should not gay or exhibit feminine behaviors if he is to be considered a real man. Above all else they must protect what is theirs, the bloodier the better. This idolized and ideal expression of masculinity is losing much of its relevance in the ever-changing and evolving modern world but, it will always have a platform in Hip- Hop culture.
The presence of multiple women is essential to masculinity in the military and in Hip Hop and the absence of them will raise questions about a man's sexuality. According to historian George Chauncey in the article “Manhood in America”, “Middle-class men increasingly conceived of their sexuality- their heterosexuality or exclusive desire for women are one of the hallmarks of a real man.” (100). The ability to be a claim and conquer as many women as possible is the pinnacle of being a man. To be a gay man was abnormal and unnatural. Homosexuality threatens to destroy manhood and the what it meant to be a man. In the military, it was especially damaging to be gay or suspected of being gay because up until the present it was assumed that gay men were on a mission to turn every straight “real” man gay. This assumption was, of course, false but in predominantly male fields as Hip Hop and the military, in addition to the powerful influence of group think and mob mentally straight men essentially feared for the gay men and fear easily became hated. Even men who were perceived as acting feminine were ostracized. Both Military men historically and Hip Hop men today believed that to prove their manhood and make a clear distinction between them and the “other”, the Military man and the Hip Hop was and is to flaunt sexual prowess and dominance over women. This meant frequenting brothels, whorehouses, strip club, wherever women were in abundance and were sexual objects. In Hip Hop, there has always been deeply rooted discrimination against that has not changed since the birth of Hip Hop. Hip Hop's homophobia makes being gay or being suspected of being gay is career damaging. In the event that a male artist is confirmed to a homosexual, it is career and social suicide. As a result, male rappers keep their sexuality a secret and keep a woman around to be their “beard” or female companion to keep up public