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Traditionally, the military has been predominantly male-dominated, especially in combat roles. However, in recent years, there has been a significant push for gender diversity and inclusion within military forces worldwide.

Feminism challenges the traditional gender norms perpetuated by the patriarchy, aiming to deconstruct them for a more inclusive and equitable society.

In the week 7 interview video, Raeywn Connell describes different groups of masculinities as "patents". She describes how these patents have different beliefs in what makes a person "masculine" and different ways of expressing and policing masculinity. She argues that hegemonic masculinity, the dominant form of masculinity in a given context, is not fixed but is instead influenced by various social, cultural, and historical factors.

In the context of the magazine cover featuring a diverse group of military workers, Connell's ideas come into play. Traditionally, the military has been associated with a particular form of hegemonic masculinity characterized by traits like strength, aggression, and dominance, often associated with white men. However, by depicting individuals from different racial backgrounds and genders in military roles, the cover challenges this narrow conception of masculinity.

The representation of a white woman alongside black and Asian men disrupts the traditional patterns of masculinity associated with the military. It suggests that there are alternative ways of embodying masculinity and femininity within this context. This diversity reflects changing patterns of masculinity, where individuals from various backgrounds can participate and excel in roles traditionally dominated by men.

Furthermore, by showcasing a woman in a typically male-dominated field, the cover emphasizes the evolving nature of gender roles and the dismantling of traditional norms. Connell's framework helps us understand how these shifts in patterns of masculinity contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society, where individuals are not limited by cold-cut gender expectations.

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They say money makes the world go around, and that is especially true in America. Dollar bills are a tangible representation of Connell's theory/term "hegemonic masculinity". Because society is organized around unequal gender relations, hegemonic masculinity acknowledges that "under conditions of gender inequality, men are also stratified against each other causing only a minority of men enjoy patriarchal privileges and power because of the way gender intersects with other key dynamics such as class and race" ("hegemonic masculinity" Doc Gore, Week 7). The face of every note in our country's commerce is the face of a white, cisgender, heterosexual, older man of power and wealth.

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This people in this photo is my best friend and I. We both identified and presented as heterosexual females. In the broad tapestry of high school life, we found ourselves the topic of swirling rumors that suggested we were a lesbian couple. After a slightly heated encounter with one rumor-believer, we decided to have fun with the situation by showing up the next day dressed in a masculine fashion, exaggerating butch and lesbian stereotypes and aesthetics.

In her YouTube video, Sophie Jerrome describes ways in which the media downplays female relationships and limits them to just being best friends at most. She even highlights examples such as the movie "Bend It Like Beckham", re-writes the story to prioritize a heterosexual relationship in a story that was meant to explore a same-sex romance.

Jerrome highlights how this behavior in mass media perpetuates false norms onto its audience that undermine female sexuality and makes it harder for individuals to understand, accept, and embrace their own feelings, leading to compulsory heterosexuality.

For my friend and I, denying the rumors and staying true to what we believed to be our true selves was funny in the moment, but over time we both slowly watched those identities change.

Compulsive heterosexuality can affect anyone- regardless of their actual sexual orientation. It can prevent people from exploring those identities, which is what it did to my friend and I. We no longer identify as heterosexual, and for a moment we didn't identify as just "best friends".

Compulsive heterosexuality impacts individuals and highlights the importance of creating spaces where people can freely express their true selves without fear of being ridiculed and without the pressure to always identify with one label.

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Pink or blue, boy or girl, we attribute gender and sex to a binary. In reality, our labels are on a spectrum.

In C.J. Pascoe's microLECTURE on Bullying, Masculinity & The Spectre of the Fag, she describes the phenomena of young boys taking their lives due to homosexuality targeted bullying. Se describes how it is young (often straight) boys targeting other young boys for behaviors that do not follow contemporary definitions of masculinity (Week 7).

Some of these "non-masculine" targets Pascoe provides are behaviors considered to be feminine or incompetent, when they show too much emotion or are too touchy around people, what they wear, their tastes in music and entertainment, and when they exhibit any same-sex attraction or interest.

The person in the center of this photo is my friend, Ian. He was new to our high school in junior year. In his two years at our school he was victim of cyber bullying speculating his sexuality. They would make remarks about his clothes for being very colorful and that he didn't like to listen to rap music. They would also make fun because he was never seen with girls, never had a romantic or sexual encounter with anyone at our school. At the time, Ian had told me he was in fact straight and always had been.

This image we took at a Hooter's, amid his bullying, as a joke between us that "proves" Ian is not gay, finding comedic irony in the fact he is wearing bright pink shoes and a shirt.

Pascoe explains how the bullying phenomenon amongst young boys is mostly based upon fear that there is no way to prove their masculinity, and instead making it a competition to reject all that is not "masculine". That's why they look to go after each other's hobbies, interests, music, clothing and more to use as "ammunition" for the remarks outputted as jokes but perceived as bullying among men. Ian's attempt to prove his masculinity is a product of the man-on-man policing of masculinity.

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One of my first favorite men was Harry Styles from the boy band One Direction. This image shows my small collection of Vogue magazines, and at the top sits Styles' 2020 December cover.

The cover was a significant moment in pop culture that celebrated diversity, challenged norms, and inspired greater acceptance and inclusivity. His decision to appear on the cover of a major fashion magazine in a garment historically associated with femininity, helped to normalize and celebrate gender diversity and non-conformity.

Firstly, the act challenges the binary notion of gender, which typically categorizes individuals strictly as male or female based on their biological sex. Styles' choice to wear a dress blurs these lines, suggesting that gender is not confined to a binary but exists on a spectrum, allowing for diverse expressions and identities beyond traditional norms.

Additionally, Styles' Vogue cover challenges the social definition of masculinity, which often emphasizes attributes like strength, stoicism, and dominance. By confidently wearing a dress, Styles redefines masculinity as something fluid and inclusive of diverse expressions. This challenges the notion that certain clothing or behaviors are inherently masculine or feminine, encouraging greater acceptance and freedom of self-expression for individuals regardless of gender.

Moreover, the cover sparks conversations about the societal pressure to conform to gender norms and the importance of embracing authenticity and individuality. Styles' willingness to defy expectations and express himself authentically sends a powerful message of acceptance and empowerment to his audience, particularly to those who may feel restricted by societal norms.