This paper will address the argument of James Gilligan in Preventing Violence regarding the relationship that exists between violence, patriarchal gender roles and homophobia. This relationship is often expressed in the behavior of men in everyday life. In addition, patriarchal gender roles and homophobia are often reflected in the depictions of male violence in popular films. Following a description of Gilligan's viewpoint on the matter, this paper will apply his ideas to an interpretation of the use of violence in three films: True Lies (1994, directed by James Cameron), Hostel (2005, directed by Eli Roth), and The Hangover (2009, directed by Todd Phillips).
According to James Gilligan, patriarchal attitudes and homophobia are related to a "devaluation of everything 'female' and an overvaluation of everything 'masculine'" (65). The patriarchal tradition in society has resulted in men having specific gender roles that are different from those associated with women. In particular, men, in contrast to women, are expected to resort to violence when dealing with difficult feelings of "shame, disgrace and dishonor" (56). For example, men are expected to become violent when women in their families engage in extramarital affairs, thereby dishonoring them (61). Gilligan further argues that homophobia is directly related to the gender roles of men in a patriarchal culture. The most shameful insults for men are those that "call into question either their courage or their manliness" (57). Thus, men who identify themselves as manly will generally become violent when homosexual insults (such as "faggot") are used against them. Gilligan notes that when men use homophobic insults against other men, this is often a projection of their own fears about being homosexual, or being thought to be homosexual (62). Gilligan's argument makes a great deal of sense and the evidence to support it can be seen in how men typically present themselves to ...