Hegemonic Masculinity In The Film Alien

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Recommended: Explain hegemonic masculinity

According to Schrock and Schwalbe understanding a man is being able to clearly identify that they have traits of hegemonic masculinity. Masculinity is defined by Schrock and Schwalbe as “a set of conventional signifying practices through which the identity ‘man’ is established and upheld in interaction.” (131) However, Bird defines a man, through the three different acts of hegemonic masculinity, which includes emotional detachment, competiveness, and sexual objectification of women. Women in many different films are known for being subjugated by men. Some women are able to overcome being subjugated and are able to have control and dominance when it comes gaining power. Women are able to achieve this through both manhood acts and their own actions. In …show more content…

The alien in this film is in control of everything almost taking away any masculine traits that a male could have especially after the men are impregnated and give birth to aliens. According to Bird, being a part of a group means that their will be manhood acts present. To be a part of a group it is still about individuality, however it is also about having those connecting traits with other males. Throughout the film Alien women are seen as having more power and control then the men. The character Ripley (the warrant officer/senior officer) can be seen as the protagonist and as a strong feminine woman. She is very strong and independent woman, even stronger then the men, however they don’t want to believe this. She is never really sexualized or objectified by any males in this film. She presents dominance when she is able to be the last survivor against the aliens well them male characters Dallas and Kane died. This shows a shift in the way the rest of the crew treats her moving forward. Ripley shows competiveness throughout Alien. She shows competiveness when she competes for survival and tries to defeat the

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