Chanting names, cheering shirtless from football stands, and screaming at screens are normal activities for guys when they’re excited. Sometimes, their entire mood depends on whether they are winning or losing, and while their shouts can be heard from a mile away, they are valid and accepted as harmless fun.
Recently, The Minecraft Movie came out, and as many people may know, there have been countless videos trending of people, primarily men, throwing buckets of popcorn and screaming at the big screen with their phone flash on, at a particular scene. The comments are filled with people adding to the joke, laughing, and wishing they were there to experience the chaos. I do admit, it has made me laugh a couple of times.
It makes me think of when a blonde pop star released a movie documentary about her previous tour. Women and young girls went to the theatre to sing along to this concert movie. Some got up and danced with their friends, some just sang quietly from their seats. However, the reaction online was different and not nearly as kind. TikTok’s videos and even articles about fans said they were “cultish” and “cringeworthy” as they were dancing during a movie concert. Called disruptive. Immature. Huh. Interesting how one group can get away with screaming, throwing food, disrupting the movie, making a literal mess for movie workers to clean up, while the other group is criticized for dancing and singing along…to a concert movie.
I’ve been told several times, “It’s not that deep”, but it clearly is.
From the moment we gain consciousness, even as young children, we learn to distinguish the differences between boys and girls. Society teaches us that boys are meant to be sporty and strong, while girls like pink and wait to be saved by their knight in shining armour. These early reminders continue to grow, reinforcing ideas of what is viewed as ladylike and manly. Over time, this gendered lens has created double standards of not only how men and women should behave, but also how each gender should react to media. A man screams and throws popcorn during a movie scene, it’s so iconic and passionate. A girl sings her favorite song. She’s too much. Why does society praise one behavior but ridicule another? This is not about popcorn or dancing, but about who we allow to be judgment-free.
God forbid a girl has fun.
