An Old Masculine: Short Essay #2

James Bond has always been known for his good looks, cunning wit, sharp intellect and the knowledge of wielding a gun quite well. He's strong, tough, persistent, smart, suave, and what could be called the perfect man. Though these characteristics seem to define what a real man might be, it's wise to understand the meaning and origins of this type of masculinity as we know it. Bond, the man that gets girls with his machismo, or “[e]xaggerated pride in masculinity, perceived as power, often coupled with a minimal sense of responsibility and disregard of consequences” as defined by Encyclopædia Britannica.

What then is masculinity? Scientists have long searched for the answer and it turns out it's up to interpretation. Gutmann states there are four broad definitions of masculinity.

[One] concept of masculinity...is, by definition, anything that men think and do. The second is that masculinity is anything men think and do to be men. The third is that some men are inherently...considered “more manly” than other men. The final [concept] emphasizes the general and central importance of male-female relations, so that masculinity is considered anything that women are not.

Some definitions have even included the denigration of women and characteristics associated with the feminine.

James Bond is portrayed as masculine in many ways then. For example, when Bond’s genitals get injured in Casino Royale, he beckons Vesper in bed “in an effort to prove he can still, ahem, perform as man” (Westover). Another significant example would be Bond’s treatment of women repeated in any of the novels and movies. Tracy Moore of The Nashville Scene writes “James Bond films are some of the most patently offensive, profoundly anti-feminist vehicles around.” It’s true that Bond is known for his poor treatment of women and thinks of them mostly as play-toys, but how did it come to be this way? Certainly Ian Fleming’s original Bond was just a chauvinist as ever, but the connection from Bond to the massive male audience has come from somewhere else.

James Bond may be seen as the masculine pin-up due in part to Sean Connery’s portrayal of the character. As the first Bond, Connery set the standard for the lineup of Bonds to follow. Connery was said to emphasize his macho more than any Bonds thereafter. The “charismatic machismo” we think of when we hear Bond, is most likely only due to Connery’s depiction (Westover).

This role-model being shown could influence young males to mold their perception of manliness and act as they see Bond do. Peter Beresford says their “fragile male egos are buttressed with the megabucks available to push Bond as role model, hero and killer; guns as power and women as scapegoats and sex aids.” Could this be the reason rape, sexual assault, and murder can be seen in some cases as masculine and actually continue to carry forward, perpetually reinforcing this idea. Not that Bond is the sole proprietor to these views; we can see the same represented in television, music, movies and even children’s cartoons.





But Bond has recently decreased in its male chauvinism with the 2006 release of Casino Royale. The womanizer Bond is still present, but instead of having sex with Vesper for the normal James Bond reason of proving his masculinity, he now does so for love. M, Bond’s superior whose character has been always played by a man, is now replaced with the strict and intelligent woman. Bond is now represented to connect to the audience of today. “He is unmistakably male, portraying a very rough image of masculinity, but never threatened by femininity. He is comfortable in a very integrated world.” (Westover).


Though Bond has changed with the times, he’s still that masculine idol he was in 1962 when Sean Connery defined the very idea of masculinity. Whether we’re moving towards a society where men and women are seen as equal, there will always be James Bond to steer young males into the narrow point of view that his masculinity is a must.


Works Cited


1. Brody, Simeon. “James Bond, Masculinity And Social Work Practice: Some uncalled for connections.” The Social Care Experts Blog. November 3, 2008. March 17, 2009.


2. Guttman, Matthew C. “Trafficking in Men: The Anthropology of Masculinity.” Annual Review of Anthropology 26 (1997): 385-409.


1. "machismo." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 17 Mar. 2009.


2. Moore, Tracy. “Chauvinism Is Forever.” Nashville Scene. July 03, 2008. March 17, 2009.


3. Westover, Brian. “A Look at How James Bond Reflects Changing Views of Masculinity.” Associated Content. January 16, 2007. March 17, 2009.