The internet is home to an unrelenting firestorm of misinformation and, unfortunately, influential content. One part of this echo chamber has been dubbed “the manosphere,” and it has a tight grip on many young men of our generation. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights defines the manosphere as certain groups who “[fight] against progressive (or ‘woke’) ideas about gender equality,” and “distort biology and evolution to argue that restrictive gender norms are ‘natural.’” Like so many corners of the internet, these groups are often a slippery slope into other forms of hate. Why is this content so appealing to young men? The lavish lifestyle of these influencers could be seen as particularly enticing. Fast cars, extreme wealth, hanging out with supermodels; can you really blame young men for being so fixated? This very surface-level idea of success has dominated the minds of many in our generation. Unfortunately, the manosphere promotes other viewpoints too, such as feminism “going too far” or the “death of masculinity”. Because I try to distance myself from social media, I doubt I have fully captured how dire this situation is. Nevertheless, these unfavourable viewpoints are becoming dangerously popular, and something must be done before it is too late. Now, dear reader, I believe I have found a solution.
Enter our knight in shining armour, or rather our Peruvian bear in a blue duffel coat and red explorer’s hat. Paddington Bear, in the context of the recent films, provides a stark contrast to what masculinity influencers tell us about how to act. Paddington sets such a good example across the three films that I am afraid I will only be able to discuss the first film within the confines of this article. As soon as we are introduced to Paddington, it becomes clear that manners are very high on his list of priorities. Upon arriving in London from Peru, he immediately greets everyone he sees with great politeness. While his presence is not well-received by the Londoners at Paddington Station, he never resorts to malicious behaviour or becomes rude to anyone who dismisses him. As we get to know Paddington better, we only see more of his politeness and consideration. Later in the movie, Paddington witnesses a pickpocket drop a stolen wallet. Thinking that the wallet belongs to the pickpocket, Paddington embarks on a high-octane, shenanigan-filled journey through London just to (in his mind) return a lost wallet to its rightful owner. Of course, Paddington’s goal is not achieved in the end. Instead, he catches the pickpocket with the help of local police and discovers the man actually has many stolen wallets.
One of the biggest themes explored in this movie is the value of good intentions. Paddington is not perfect by any means. During his first night in the Brown’s house, he floods the entire bathroom up to the ceiling and rides the bathtub down the stairs like a raft. One could even say that Paddington is an agent of chaos and destruction. But he never intends to be just that. Paddington always has the best intentions, even if his actions fail to reflect that. After all, Paddington is just a bear trying his best–just like he says after being hailed as a hero for stopping the pickpocket. If they tried, many young men could see themselves in Paddington. We all make mistakes; it is impossible to go through life without making any. Paddington teaches us that making mistakes is okay and that, as long as our intentions are good, all parties involved will end up just fine. When Paddington is faced with difficult situations, he remains true to himself and never falters in his good manners. As he states in the film, “I just do what any bear would do.”
Manosphere-related content resonates with young men; they aspire to be rich and famous and to look good while doing it. Yet if we compare the life Paddington leads to the lives of manosphere influencers, Paddington has much more nuanced and sincere ideals. Some might say that Paddington does not radiate success because he does not drive Ferraris, does not hang out with supermodels, and does not bench press 225 pounds. But lest we forget the life Paddington so passionately leads. He is surrounded by friends and loved ones, enjoys his days in London, and is a model citizen, appreciated and loved by all. To achieve this status, Paddington merely tried his best to be helpful and kind to those around him. Although he doesn’t explicitly preach these beliefs, he inadvertently uplifts his new family and brings out the best in all of them simply by being true to himself and kind to others.
Before anyone asks me, yes, one of my biggest role models is a CGI anthropomorphic bear from Peru. Yes, he lives in London with his adopted family. Yes, he drinks tea and eats marmalade sandwiches. And yes, he is more kind, patient, and considerate than I could ever hope to be, but that provides no grounds for me to abandon my quest to live up to his image. The struggle towards the heights is enough to fill a young bear’s heart.
