If/Then The Paradox of Masculinity
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Apr 8, 2026 Ashley Martin, Associate Professor at Stanford GSB who studies how gender shapes perception, explores how masculinity is rewarded at work yet harms men personally. Short takes cover how films and objects get gendered, a pet rock study that reveals gender assumptions, cross-cultural findings on gender primacy, and ideas for healthier models of masculinity and material culture.
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Dad Learned Masculinity From Old Movies
- Moviegoing shaped adults' masculine performances in home life.
- Natasha describes her dad internalizing 70s–80s macho films, becoming protective and prone to fights in youth.
Two Competing Male Models From One Movie
- Different films produce different masculine models, from selfish ruggedness to tender male intimacy.
- Riley contrasts Marty Supreme's selfish lead with a friend showing tenderness in a Holocaust scene covered in honey.
Deidentification Creates An Androcentric Default
- Removing names or visual cues reduces hiring bias but people still assume a default gender.
- De-identified resumes or audition curtains increased callbacks, yet evaluators often inferred the candidate was male.