Frat Boy Nation

[bloom]

Frat Boys Rule The Earth
It's an angry, violent, warmongering world out there right now. You just live in it

There are no peacemakers in the world right now.

Crusty macho hawks run the planet like never before in our generation. Violent money-addled males with far too much power and far too little perspective are in charge of far too many corporations and lobbies and governments.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/g/a/2002/04/26/notes042602.DTL

Alpha Male Epsilon

They can gawk at and objectify women and still be considered endearing and cute. Frat boys take various forms, but what they all convey is the impression that comes from the right combination of physical traits and personality characteristics: striking good looks, inexplicable popularity, overt self-confidence, pervasive charm and just a hint of self-deprecation. An air of entitlement or wealth also helps define a frat boy, as does a certain proclivity toward aggressiveness. (That's not to say that frat boys are all rich, but they probably act like they're swimming in money. Nor are they all violent -- that's unquestionably not the case -- but unchecked machismo, which they exude in great quantities, can sometimes have its downside, from frat house hazing to incidents of date rape.) Does G.W. qualify as a frat boy? Yep. Steve Forbes? No way. Matthew McConaughey? Definitely. Jerry Seinfeld? Nope. And even when it's obvious, there are degrees of difference. For example, both of the men who have hosted Comedy Central's "Daily Show" (Jon Stewart, the current host, and Kilborn, who left to take over "The Late Late Show" from Tom Synder) give off that frat-boy vibe. Kilborn, however, is decidedly more obnoxious; his demeanor is much more drunk-and-hanging-out-at-the-house. Stewart's is a more reserved eating-dinner-with-the-boss-10-years-later air. Same holds true with President Clinton and George W.; both frat boys, but different approaches. The difference is academic.

http://archive.salon.com/people/feature/2000/02/23/fratboys/

Frat boy nation

Our entertainment and marketing is increasingly geared for this Frat Guy audience. The numbers 18 to 34 "as in the key age demographic to advertisers" have never been more important. That's because never before has a generation of supposedly adult men had more disposable income.

So it's no longer what plays in Peoria that matters, it's what plays at the Pi Kap house that dictates.

Movies and TV shows depict flocks of thirty-year olds going on 13. Music's biggest moneymaker is Dave Matthews Band, a jam-band that earned its chops playing college parties in Virginia. Frat house hobbies like fishing and poker are all the rage. Even our latest fashion choices began in the frat house: Palm Beach Spring in the warm months, wrinkled khakis and tweed this Fall.

And just as there are negatives to fraternity life, so are there with the dominance of Frat Guy. Perhaps the worst is the complete Mardi Gratification of the female sex. This is an environment in which pornography runs rampant, Hooters runs an airline, and breast implants runneth over.

http://www.affbrainwash.com/archives/013931.php

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This actually makes some sense - when it's all about the money - the idea that this mentality is the geographic to sell to - so more shows are made to appeal to that group - with the result being that more people are exposed to that mentality and it becomes more normalized.

To me - the "Frat Boy" mentality as described in these articles are about the most opposite of feminism that I can think of - for something that is more or less socially acceptable. While I am sure there are many fraternity guys who do not share this mentality - nevertheless - the mentality described is something that people understand when they hear it. I thought it was interesting to see TDS mentioned - because even though it can be funny - it's often funny in a 13 year old boy/frat boy kind of way.

It doesn't seem to me that very many shows are created for the feminist mentality nearly so much. It must have been determined it would not be that big of a seller.

If you have a favorite feminist type of show - I would be happy to know about it.

[BlueIris]

1. Oh. My. God. Those links were brilliant. Thanks.

Especially relevant considering a Frat Boy litterally runs our country and (unfoturnately) thinks he runs the world. I also think you're right that the FB mentality is the antithesis of the feminist outlook.

Okay, DU feminists, I'm having an epiphany...ha ha ha ha HA! This is one reason I hated W. on sight. Frat. Boy. Mentality. A feminist can smell it from four thousand miles away. Ew.

[bloom]

2. Thanks!!

I'm glad somebody got it. :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. As a former college professor, I know more than I want to know about

frat boys, especially their sense of entitlement and feeling that everyone should treat their misdeeds as high-spirited boyish pranks.

They're boys in the worst sense of the word, not mature men who take responsibility for their actions.

[BlueIris]

5. Oh, Lord, now I'm having flashbacks to That Thread. Horrible.

What bothers me so much about the Frat Boy mentality, especially considering how pervasive it has become in the upper echelon of our actual government: a Frat Boy, from what I've observed, even into late adulthood, really only considers himself accountable to represenatatives of that subsect of traditional patriarchal authority. He recognizes no other, higher authority--you know, like anyone in the legal system--beyond those he vaugely feels are part of his tribe, especially in terms of his personal behavior.

[libodem]

3. very, very interesting

I can't argue with this concept at all. Very interesting take.

[atommom]

6. Fantastic links!

They all tie together in a very persuasive (and scary) fashion.

[ismnotwasm]

7. Eww.

I don't know why, but this just grossing me out. The "hazing" or whatever they call it reminds me of a twisted version of military boot camp--can you make it boy? Can you? Can you become one of "us?"
I think of all the sexist shit geared toward the 18-25 male age group. Resturants, bars, TV shows, Movies, Commercials, sports, music.
Boys will be boys still, evidently. So when do these boys become men? And how do we define what a man is? The frat boy image in these articles seems to say never-- Sexism becomes a nostalgic part of hanging to thier youth as men like these age. And becoming a man becomes a poor punchline to a bad joke. Sad.

[Hello_Kitty]

9. Aging frat boys are just pathetic

You are correct IMO about everything being geared to a young (or trying to be young) male demographic. Marketing targets their insecurities about fitting into a brutal homosocial order. Respecting women is "soft".

But I really get disheartened when you see guys like the ones here on DU that have the frat boy attitude. They're supposed to be smarter, and better, than that.

[PassingFair]

8. For some reason, when you asked for favorite feminist shows...

AB FAB came roaring into my mind.
So cool and self-loving that they could make BROAD fun of themselves.
Patsy and Edina and Saffy all ROCK!
I love the female characters on that show, ALL of them.

[Kipepeo]

10. So True

Frat Boy mentality RULES the tv/film world - especially comedy, where being a total fucking sexist pig is suddenly considered anti-PC. LOL. Imagine that: sexism being new and rebellious, but lo it has been re-marketed.

As for original feminist comedy - get yourself to a video store and rent/buy the Kathy & Mo show. You will NOT be disappointed! :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000777HSO/103-4878088-8042210?v=glance&n=130

The poor-dirt-farmer tampon commercial is worth the entire viewing, alone. So funny!

[bloom]

11. Remarketed Sexism

That is exactly it. And I agree that the comedians are esp. adept at spreading it.

It is the very thing that I see so many on DU being influenced by - who don't notice or want to know about. The sacred God's like Jon Stewart are not to questioned - and it's all just supposed to be funny. I think TDS, etc. could be perfectly funny without the sexism.

I was watching the "Earth to America" special on TBS and as much as I liked the message about environmental awareness - and using comedy as a medium with that - the show was also a documentary on excluding women from the comedy scene and from influence.


I'll have to look for the Kathy & Mo show.