By: Jerry Wang

The use of pregnant men in the media has changed over the years. This is due to changes in what is considered acceptable as well as different platforms in which the idea can be used.

Movies that featured the concept contained many ridiculous and even horrifying sights. Some are a guy being given a slit between his legs and a large belly before giving birth to another man. This process is then repeated by the man who had just been born. Another example is when a man became impregnated after eating a baby. In these movies the pregnancy was the driving factor in its “horror movie” status.

Early movies on the subject were poor and even offensive due to the unrealistic illustration of pregnancy. “Rabbit Test” was one such movie. The main character, the pregnant man, simply put a pillow under his shirt and acted normally. He wasn’t worried when his due date crept up and seemed to be unfazed by the situation. The movie used the pregnant man as a tool to introduce racist and sexist jokes.

On the other hand, the rom-com “Junior” made in 1994 featured Arnold Schwarzenegger who became pregnant after an embryo was implanted in his stomach. Arnold embodied the bridge between males and females during a time where it was normal to see women and men as different organisms.

Arnold began experiencing stereotypical symptoms such as crying easily and craving pickles. While Schwarzenegger looked ridiculous with a masculine body and a massive belly, Amanda Hess felt connected with him. She said that she felt her appearance was overshadowed by the purpose and joy her pregnancy gave. Similarly, despite the situation, Schwarzenegger acts like an actual father would and isn’t a glorified joke. This and actual arguments someone in a similar position would make like, “my body, my choice” makes him a respectable character.

However, all progress halted with Lil Nas X’s “Montero.” In the video he wears a cheap costume of a pregnant man while sliding down a striper pole into hell.

The idea of pregnant men is not a mere ploy, and they exist throughout transgender individuals. When used not as a joke or defining trait, it can be incorporated smoothly into a piece. However, with the way it is currently being used, the next controversy is just around the corner.

Article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659888007122x791671259387654500/Pregnant%20Men%20Were%20a%20Movie%20Punchline.%20Now%20They%E2%80%99re%20Horror%20Villains.%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf