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I KNOW I've posted about this multiple times but --
Thinking about Hux and how complicated his relationship with masculinity/men must be in canon. As far as we're told, every man that held direct power over him has exercised that power w physical violence/abuse.
Thinking about Hux and how complicated his relationship with masculinity/men must be in canon. As far as we're told, every man that held direct power over him has exercised that power w physical violence/abuse.
His father set the trend, extended through Snoke. The only person in a position of power that protected him to any extent was Rae Sloane -- it looks like the closest thing he has to a "friend" is Phasma.
At the same time, his primary abuser (and presumably his colleagues)
At the same time, his primary abuser (and presumably his colleagues)
held open disdain for Hux's failure to live up to the Imperial standard of tough masculinity -- he's thin, he's weak, he's "useless." His strengths, if viewed through a hyper-traditionalist lens, are feminine coded. He (basically) poisons his father, has a quasi-official
poisoner lackey; poison being a favored IRL method of murder for women. W his father, it's Phasma that actually does the deed, further removing his physicality. He trusts Phasma to exert the violence. He is -- surprisingly -- very good with children. The ex-Imperials
think of him as shrieking, hysterical.
But then --his uniform's design seems to largely function as a way to hide his "unacceptable" figure. It's a layer of armor, the lines and padding giving him the impression of the Acceptable Male Body, what power /should/ look like.
But then --his uniform's design seems to largely function as a way to hide his "unacceptable" figure. It's a layer of armor, the lines and padding giving him the impression of the Acceptable Male Body, what power /should/ look like.
(addendum: a lot of the "rejected for failing to perform masculinity" also reads in other characters I love like MCU Loki, but what makes Hux so interesting is that he may hate HIMSELF on some level, his own body's failure, it doesn't seem to translate into reactive
misogyny? The only people Hux trusts in canon are women. He went as far as trusting Phasma with patricide.)
TL;DR
Hux: "men are violent, and I must camouflage my failure to Be A Real One™ to minimize future violence other men will direct at me"
Hux: "men are violent, and I must camouflage my failure to Be A Real One™ to minimize future violence other men will direct at me"
