Masculine Sissies, 1 of 2

Many pro wrestlers combine elements of masculinity and femininity in their clothing and behavior.  Why is that?

I call a wrestler who bends genders a “Masculine Sissy.”  I’m not talking about totally swishy, obviously queer namby pambies — I’m talking about a more subtle nod to femininity by many Real Man wrestlers.  I’m talking about dudes who are otherwise totally tough in appearance and action, but seem unable to resist wearing flowery trunks or shiny knee pads.

He may have broad shoulders, a beard, a deep voice — but then his trunks will have a big pink heart on the crotch, or he’ll wear a long flowing robe, or style his hair as pretty as a Super-Model.

He’ll have giant muscles and look like he could chew nails, but then he’ll turn a cart-wheel in the ring, or pull hair, or cry when the ref scolds him.

The Masculine Sissy is like one of your buddies who acts very Hetero, but occasionally drops a little innuendo that makes your GayDar chime.

Both Heel and Jobber wrestlers work this gimmick — dipping a toe in Lake Sissy by wearing a pink kerchief or nail polish, but otherwise portraying masculine, aggressive, ass-kicking tendencies.

Why is this motif so common in wrestling?  What does it reveal?

From when we’re young boys, males are taught to strive for the Masculine Ideal, to avoid and reject all things feminine.  Our behaviors are constantly policed by family and friends to make sure we stay on the straight and narrow — we don’t give off any sissified vibes.  Everything from how we walk, talk, hold our arms and fingers, what we wear, read, watch, and the hobbies we enjoy are subject to criticism, ridicule, or stern reprimand if we reveal even the scent of girlishness or homo-sexuality.

So boys quickly learn to play sports not dolls, wear black not pink, watch baseball not ballet, get mad not sad, pick fights not flowers, and to quickly point out anything sissified in our brothers and our buddies so the queer heat will be on them.

Truthfully, nobody is 100% Man — none of us can live up to the Masculine Ideal of complete ruthlessness, pain-resistance, and unbreakability which society expects.  We all live in constant fear that something we say or do will “out” us, reveal our frightened and fragile nature, because the truth is we are all Masculine Sissies.  We all try our damnedest to look and act tough and unbreakable at all times — when deep down inside, we might enjoy belting out some Lady Gaga, or crying during sad movies, or wearing pink underwear around the house.

Pro wrestling reveals the truth of masculinity — that it is just a social construct, an act we’re taught to put on for each other, a cover-up of our true emotions and frailties.

That shiny silver star on a pair of trunks, those bright red boots, a peek of pink underwear, these little flashes of bling symbolize the feminine side of an otherwise masculine wrestler — his admission that, deep down, he is a frail and vulnerable as the rest of us.

Pro wrestlers dare to reject the Masculine Ideal.  They feel free to wear a powder blue speedo, or eye-liner, or a shiny gold wrist-band.

After all, why try to dress in the costume of the Masculine Ideal when their suffering and submission in the ring will soon expose them as Masculine Sissies in any case??

We love pro wrestlers because they take the heat off of us.  They blaze the trail for us. They put themselves out there, loud and proud — their Masculine side as well as their Sissy side.  Maybe if the wrestler can wear a bulging lavender speedo and boots with fringes, I can wear a red necktie.  At least I’m not as sissified as typical pro wrestler.

The pro wrestlers who are Masculine Sissies remind us that there is more than one definition of masculinity…  That real men can wear pink (or yellow, or white)…  That frailty and vulnerability can be charming and admirable even for a dude…  That we really can relax sometimes — we don’t always have to try to live up to the Masculine Ideal 24/7.

We’re all friends here, right?

To Be Continued…