"Men-Ups" by Rion Sabean

Do you think these images look silly? I do too. This is an example of how deep the influence of patriarchy runs. The fact that I as a woman initially found these images to be humorous is an example as to how there are indeed distinct differences as to how society views male and female sexuality. These photos are stereotypical pin-up poses for women. They are often considered "sexy" when the pin-ups are acted out by women as society expects women to pose for men. It is expected that women are to portray the concept of "sexy" in a certain way.

Although, men are certainly exploited through the media, the exploitation of men is no where near parallel to the experiences of women.

The men in these photos also depict stereotypes. "Manliness" is often associated with overt machismo. So, here we have men posing with rugged beards, carpentry tools, and army fatigues.

The below images are from photographer Rion Sabean. In fact the last photo with a man holding a drill is Sabean himself. All photos are via Lost At E Minor.

During my search for more information about Sabean, I discovered that these images along with an interview piece are posted on Jezebel. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

What inspired you to make a series of pin-ups featuring men (and call them Men-Ups)?

"I had had the idea for such a long time, and just never went for it. The imagery of showcasing the feminine/masculine ideals in one single image just struck me as something that could really work. Hilariously enough, and beyond my fascination with gender binaries and their inherent nature to be completely incomprehensible to me, I first began tinkering with the idea, because I will at any given moment strike very specific poses that would be defined as feminine by society; more specifically, the pointed toe. Haha. From there, it was completely obvious that pin-ups and all the associations with them would be the right choice in moving forward."