ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of popular media in socializing boys and men to embrace the violence of hyper-masculinity. It includes a discussion about the lessons of superheroes, genre stereotyping, the violence of romance and rape culture. By the end of this chapter students should be able to debate ways media culture constructs gender performance. Sequential Art: In “Brooke,” a man remembers his encounter with a beautiful transgender woman who is later murdered. The story provides a point of discussion for gender performance, hyper-masculine policing, and hate crime. Key Concepts: hyper-masculinity, sex, gender, gender stereotyping, muscle dysmorphia, culture of honor, contagion effect, hegemonic masculinity, Gaze Theory, Rape Culture, Incel and Internet Radicalization, Queer Theory, heteronormative story, gender performativity, refrigerator syndrome, patriarchy, intersectionality, #MeToo.
