The Melting Pot - Hypermasculinity

Hypermasculinity is defined as the exaggeration of male stereotypical behaviour, such as an emphasis on physical strength, aggression, and sexuality.

The Melting Pot discuss, in glorious audio format, whether or not Video Games do contribute to the stereotype in terms of both physical appearance and personality traits.

Regarding physical appearance, we split video game characters into four categories: the IBFF Pro Bodybuilder, Fitness Model, In-shape Guy and Non-Fitness Guy in order to assess whether there is a spectrum of body types in Video games and the results may surprise you.

Similar to our episode on hypersexuality, we muse on whether the physiques of these characters, which range from Zangief (Street Fighter) and Marcus Phoenix (Gears of War) to Zeke (Infamous) and the Meat King (Hitman Contracts), fit the roles they play in their respective games?

In terms of the psychological side of hypermasculinity, are the traits of men showing no weakness, displaying no feelings and lacking any vulnerability the norm epitomized by characters such as Duke Nukem or Kratos (God of War) the norm? Or, are they adequately counterbalanced by protagonists like Joel (Last of Us) or Ethan Mars (Heavy Rain)?

Hit that play button to discover the answers to all of these questions.