Penis Shaped Everything
Image: Unsplash
A kid in my health class in middle school once blurted out with part excitement and part hesitation, “the CN tower looks like a penis!” I haven’t been able to unsee the likeness between the phallus and the world’s largest tower since. Historically, Western architecture and monuments have centred phallic imagery to depict power and authority. Currently, penis shaped food and party favours have taken over social events. We can’t seem to escape penis symbols and metaphors but there’s a reason for that: the correlation between power, masculinity and the phallus continues to shape every aspect of society.
From bachelorette parties to food vendors, the obsession enters celebrations and social activities imbedding itself into different corners of our lives. “I went to a bachelorette party once that had penis shaped everything: straws, cookies, cake, little confetti. It was a little too much for my liking, if I’m being completely honest. It’s fine to celebrate getting married but I think cis-het couples take it too far with all the penis symbols at bachelorette parties,” shared Devy. Penis shaped party favours, while I’m sure results in a lot of giggles, is part of the normalization of society’s obsession with phallic imagery. “They’re not even appealing to look at,” Devy continued.
On the contrary, Mya* explained that maybe penis shaped items can take away what we’re used to associating it with. “I would argue that maybe deconstructing masculinity does start with disassociating the penis with things other than power, maybe the food and party items take that association away. I guess it comes down to how we reclaim power in those spaces,” she explained. Downtown Toronto recently saw the launch of Members Only Waffle House, a dessert shop with exclusively penis shaped waffles. With taglines like “Licked it so it’s mine” and a play on words on menu items, the waffle shop garners attention on social media teetering between cheeky and chuckle-worthy content.
“We can’t seem to escape penis symbols and metaphors but there’s a reason for that: the correlation between power, masculinity and the phallus continues to shape every aspect of society. ”
Phallic imagery also “I’ve also noticed swords and guns, things we see in movies for example, that symbolize hypermasculinity also resemble the shape of a penis in some ways,” Jenn* pointed out. “On screen we also see it as an extension of “manliness” and we should try to unpack that, it can be really harmful for young people who consume this content,” Jenn continued, making the connection between a construction of masculinity tied to the penis. “It is also very transphobic. We have to shift the conversation away from phallic symbols and imagery and it’s relationship to power and masculinity to tackle what patriarchy imposes on us,” Jenn concluded.
On the flip side, white feminists whose activism never extends past drawing pictures of the vulva and wearing pussy hats also bring forth similar concerns about associating genitals to gender construction and expression. Shifting the conversation around gender away from genitalia and instead highlighting gender expression starts with creating safe spaces to explore these issues without judgement.
*Names have been changed upon request for anonymity.
