The Uncomfortable Double Standard of “Magic Mike”

IMO I experienced a different double standard with this movie. I'm a straight guy who wanted to see this movie from the first time I saw a trailer for it simply because I think Steven Soderbergh is one of the best directors working today and as such I'll see pretty much anything he puts out there, and this is especially true when one of his movies gets positive reviews as Magic Mike did. The double standard I experienced was either shock or ridicule from virtually every woman I know upon finding out I had any interest in this movie. What is that all about? Should I find it similarly shocking or hilarious when a female friend of mine expresses an interest in seeing some traditionally male, macho action flick or something? I don't think so.

BTW, in seeing the movie there were some catcalls from the women in my audience, and the woman I went with whispered to me that it was the greatest movie she'd ever seen (in a joking way, just referencing all the stripper guys), but I never felt self conscious about what I looked like (even though I look nothing like those guys). If I had any complaint about all of that though it's that I thought there were too many stripper scenes in general and that a lot of them really didn't add anything to the movie other than just being gratuitous eye candy. Some of that is to be expected, and some of the stripping scenes definitely added to the plot of the movie, but a few just seemed like "Oh yeah, here's a random montage of mostly naked guys for you." I get that this kind of thing happens with women in movies all the time, and I think it's just as vapid and gratuitous then too. I kind of expected a tighter movie in that respect considering Soderbergh directed it. It was still an enjoyable film though.

Just at the point where I thought the author would completely understand and sympathize with how women are constantly objectified, he completely misses the point. Instead, he decides to become antagonistic and even a bit whiny.

Terrible article. Not very big on gender deconstruction. Very big on blaming women. Seriously, this guy's not even thinking very hard about what he's writing.

I have a really radical though that I'm sure will offend some people, but It's been brewing for a while.

We've been dealing with the issue of female objectification for a few decades now. Now, apearently we're going to have to deal with the issue of male objectification. Hetero men who have been dragged to this movie seem to have had one of two reactions:

• OMG this I feel so violated! How can women who complain of objectification be so objectifying!?
• It kind of make me understand the plight of women a bit more.

I hear women saying shit like "Now maybe some men will understand how uncomfortable it makes us when your gaze falls upon us" or some shit.

How about this? How about we all grow the fuck up and admit that we, as humans, would like to fuck. Women, go to your Magic Mike and your Twilight and male strip joints and whatever the fuck else the entertainment industry has for you with half naked men. Have a great time! Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic. There is nothing wrong with having a little lusty fun! Particularly from a movie.

Men, go watch whatever B- skin flick you want, go to the strip clubs, have some goddamn fun!

Both genders, see that really hot person walking down the street? Of course you do! Try to be respectful, don't flick your tongue at them or touch them or some shit, but fuck it go ahead and have a look! Nothing wrong with checking out an ass here and there.

We are sexual creatures, it is in our nature to lust after the opposite sex. That's how relationships start with SO's. Whether we like to admit it or not, that's how most friendships with the opposite sex start. That's how babies are made. It's just how life is and the only reason that's it's frowned upon is because of dumb fucking social stigmas that say sex, the thing that brought you into the world, the thing that you WILL DO, that EVERYONE DOES an untold number of times in their lives, the desire of which introduced you to your life mate, gave you your children and was ultimately really damn fun, is somehow wrong and evil. Well, bullshit. And even though sex is often an integral part of love, there's no reason it needs to be tied exclusively with love either. There is nothing wrong with sex.

Checking someone out is not objectification. Whooping at a movie is not objectification. Strip clubs and other form of sex work may border on objectification, but as long as you can treat other people like human beings, it's not. It's just admitting and dealing with the natural human desire to have sex, and have fun.

There's no harm in this movie. I hope it's successful and I hope more movies like it are made because then women can go out and have the same type of fun that men do. In fact, I think it would be rad if every time some action flick that my SO, whoever she may be at the time, doesn't want to see with me, that there were an alternative like this. I can go out with my guy friends and watch The Expendables 3 featuring every bad-ass ever, and my gf/wife/whatever can go watch Magic Mike 2. Maybe we'll both come home with a slight increase in good-time-hormones and have some damn good sexins. How bad would that sort of thing really be?

This puritanical BS is stupid. Everyone should be able to have some fun. Just respect the people you come across. It's not that hard.

TL;DR Everyone likes to check out the opposite sex (or the same sex if gay). Lets just all grow up and allow each other to enjoy our stupid base level entertainment.

The female objectification of men - I would argue - isn't as prevalent as media makes it out to be. I mean, the familiar trope of the fat bumbling idiot with the hot, patient wife is still incredibly popular, females in positions of power are still discussed as to their appearance, not ability, etc etc...

Sure, there are programmes like TrueBlood, with the 'hot' guys (and hot girls), but for every one of those, there is a plethora of Californications, with a Runckle and Marcy.

Not that it makes objectification OK... but really, what did you expect from a film that was made purely around mens bodies? It's just "Coyote Ugly" with a gender reversal.

All I can say is "It's about fuckin time".

I like women who know what they want and just fucking do it. I like women who believe that they are in control of their own lives. And I welcome the day when a woman buys me a drink or asks me to have dinner with her. But we aren't there yet. And if you asked me why that is, it's that rejection isn't a feeling that most women have been raised to be able to handle.

I personally think it's fine to objectify. I'm always going to appreciate a nice body. I don't even care if the woman I'm with does the same for other men. If we can't trust each other in that regard, we'd have a pretty fake relationship.

So to all the women out there, hoot and holler away. Enjoy the movie, I support you. Just don't call me a pig when it's the other way around.

All the faces, all the palms.

How many male strippers are there versus female strippers? How many female strippers have been in movies versus male strippers? Sorry, my sympathy's a little limited here.

The tides are turning and now that women are the predominant breadwinners in this country, you're going to see a shift in the sexual objectification of men. This is exactly what women have experienced since the history of human civilization and all gay men alive today have experienced it since the day they were born. All I can say is get used to it, because it isn't going away anytime in your virile adult life. What you're feeling, I'm sure is uncomfortable, and you probably feel insecure and inadequate that women prefer men with bodies like that over yours, but just know it's nothing personal. You're just not immune anymore. You're normal and ordinary just like every other disadvantaged population in the world. Your impenetrable privilege has come to an end and yes, female privilege now exists. The question is, will you let the inadequacies eat you alive? Or will you as a community collectively have your own emotional revolution and join ranks with the rest of the world?