What is it that compels it to drag its military halfway across the world? What is the origin of its interventionist instincts? Taking over the presidency within two years, Roosevelt would vigorously pursue those ideals in office, helping America emerge from the 19th century as a global power. For the 26th president, masculinity was central to national survival.
As it senses its own empire rising, China, too, like other empires before it, has begun to worry about the manliness of its men—its fears accentuated by its memories of historical failures to protect itself from colonial powers. Read more: Homophobia is Not an Asian Value. Chinese educators have been worried about the social impact of the paucity of male teachers in lower grades, depriving young boys of male role models. Gender-neutral evaluation standards are also seen as a problem as they do not suitably reward physical activity.
A top Chinese government think tank even believes this star-induced feminization is part of a wider CIA operation to emasculate Asian men. They are apparently inspired by the herbivorous stars of Japanese and Korean pop.
International conspiracies and shadow wars aside, anxieties over masculinity and feminization have been a constant recurrence in empire-minded nations.
These anxieties stem from rapid economic and social changes that, on the one hand, propel countries to global leadership while at the same time disrupt established hierarchies and cultural norms at home.
