Masculinities in TV shows.

After reading the first three chapters from R. W. Connell’s Masculinities, I’ve been thinking about some of the most popular TV shows and how their male characters fall into the categories of masculinity set out by Connell. It turns out that these TV shows really do a good job at covering many types of masculinities that blend nicely into the engaging complex storylines:
Gossip Girl
Chuck Bass - Hegemonic: heterosexuality, power, authority, and aggression.
He is a womanizer and extremely promiscuous. Being a billionaire at the age of 18, he certainly holds a lot of authority for his wealth and power in business. He has the image of a dominant male, who is very aggressive in love as well as in business, and knows very well what he wants and how to obtain his goals.
Nate Archibald - It’s debatable.
This character is the perfect example of heterosexuality. He is good-looking, cute and popular among the girls. He dated all the beautiful females on the show and even older women. He is not aggressive or authoritative and can be weak at times, but he does come from a privileged family. He has both sensitivity, which is often identified with complicit masculinity, and a highly sexualized persona of the hegemonic masculinity.
Dan Humphrey - Complicit: Men who do little to challenge the patriarchal gender order, thereby enjoying its many rewards.
Unlike the other males in the upper east side, Dan isn’t violent and doesn’t use women. As a boyfriend he proves to be understanding and supportive. Dan seems to enjoy all the benefits of traditional masculinity and the privileges of being a handsome white guy, when he is clearly an outcast among the rich kids.
Rufus Humphrey - Complicit
He is a responsible father to his children and patient, sensitive husband, who respects his billionaire wife and gives her most of the decision-making power. He is clearly not the dominant one in his marriage.
Glee
Finn Hudson - Complicit
Finn is portrayed as “a good guy trying to do the right things”. Although he is a popular football player, he isn’t a jerk like Puck. He’s a performer, but he isn’t gay or nerdy. He also has qualities of a leader who isn’t hesitant to voice his opinions, and step up to take responsibility. Towards Quinn’s pregnancy, he feels the urge to become a good father and embraces the opportunity with anticipation. In many ways, he is an excellent example of the traditional masculinity.
Kurt Hummel - Subordinate
He’s a homosexual male that is often bullied by Dave Karofsky, a popular jock at school. Because of his insecurity, he joins the football team as a way of claiming masculinity and surprisingly leads them to victory with Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” performance. This detail in the show questions the barriers held by traditional masculinity, and develops a new perspective on modern masculinity and what it means to be a man.
Will Schuester - Complicit
As a teacher, he is compassionate, understanding, respectful, and does not use his authoritative power too often on his students. As a husband, he is a provider, a good-listener and a great potential father.
Artie Abrams - Subordinate
Artie is a nerdy and handicapped character, who often displays stereotypical feminine traits. For instance, talkative, soft and weak.
Noah “Puck” Puckerman - Debatable, A challenge to the traditional masculinity?
He is authoritative as a member of the football team, a symbol of masculinity; a “man’s pursuit”, where aggression, competition, independence, and strength are prized qualities. However, he later joins “Glee,” a “gay” club that is completely devoid of masculine qualities. Similar to Chuck, he is a jerk and also uses women; but when he got Quinn pregnant, he earnestly wants to be acknowledged as the father.