I also think a majority of men cannot fathom that Michael Jackson--a straight, black man--could present masculinity in a way beyond machismo, aggressiveness, and domination. That Michael was soft-spoken, kind, loving, and in many ways demonstrated a maternal nature toward children and adults completely shatters the prominent ideology around masculinity. As does the way Michael presented himself, wearing makeup, wearing beautiful clothing, surrounding himself with beautiful things, embracing a childlike wonder in a world so broken. Not only did Michael's personality and appearance unsettle the locked crypt of masculinity that men and society at large bury themselves in, but the fact that, at the same time, his fans, the world, and a hell of a lot of women loved it. They loved Michael. They wanted Michael. They aspired to be like Michael. They saw him as The Man in many ways. The very traits men deem as feminine, many saw as what a man should be like, and I think that fact, to this very day, absolutely fucking terrifies those who cannot free themselves from a patriarchial world view that legitimates itself on violence and domination.
