Hegemonic Masculinity.

This piece explores the concept of hegemonic masculinity- the dominant way of being a man in a particular time and culture, this dominance being over other competing forms of masculinity (1).
This piece is made up of street photography plus images from newspapers and magazines.
Constructing this made me aware of the discrepancy in the number of photos of female and male bodies in the media, where there is a notable continuation of the 'male gaze'.
The images of masculinity that men (and women) are continually subjected to seem to emphasise masculinity as assured, confident, active, combative and powerful either socially, economically, politically or physically.
The photo of three men (centre top) where (veiled but) sexist comments and objectifying have been superimposed perpetuates the idea that men have the right to gaze upon, and judge, the physicality of women. I felt it was legitimate to add Nigel Farage as he recently sought to play down Donald Trump's sexist comments. 
The reproduction of hegemonic masculinity occurs from an early age through role models, toys and cartoons and continues throughout adulthood, I was interested in the similarity of pose and visual message between Bob the Builder and the serviceman above
I included Jeremy Corbyn outside a fence because, to a degree, he is an example of an alternative masculinity that eschews symbols of power and dominance       



(1) Woodward, K. (2008) 'Boxing masculinities: attachment, embodiment and heroic narratives.' in Redman, P. (2008) 'Attachment. Sociology and Social Worlds', Open University/Manchester University Press, Manchester and New York p.88