Real Wild Men

I think that a movie that presents “real wild man” is Denzel Washington’s character in Training Day. Denzel’s Washington’s character is named Alonzo Harris and he is a ruthless killer who extorts people to get ahead in life. Alonzo is a product of his environment, and the main place he resides is in the ghettoes of Los Angeles. Throughout the film we see the effects that gender roles have in the inner city culture. “It has been proven that people treat their children differently depending on their sex, boys are socialized to be more sports-oriented and aggressive” (Beedles 204).

This encouragement towards more aggressive behavior for men is demonstrated by Alonzo’s associates. Alonzo’s associates brutally torture cops in front of their women significant others. The women just watch the torture and do not at all engage. The associates would benefit greatly from assistance by the women to aid in the torture of the police. However, the women stand and just watch because of the gender roles for non-aggression that are engrained into them.

The men also believe that physical assistance from women de-masculinates them and this is the reason they choose to torture alone. I relate to a similar feeling because when I am carrying boxes, I refuse help from women. I feel as though if I receive help, then my self-worth will decrease. This is not how I believe society should be run by this is the way I was raised. “Love-making has become an act that is looked upon as an act between a man and a woman” (Beedles 203). Any man that engages in love making with another man is then not seen as a true man. This is apparent when Alonzo uses homophobic slurs to people he does not like.