Harry Barrington

Rigid ideals of masculinity continue to dominate social behaviour, shaping how men are expected to move, sit, and present themselves to meet their ideal. These performances, often unconscious, are reinforced through both cultural narratives and physical environments. From the way men are taught to take up space to how power is assigned around objects like chairs or tables. Even in queer spaces, traditional markers of masculinity are mimicked and celebrated, leaving little room for non-dominant expressions of manhood.

Men Should is a design proposal that explores these behaviours through a series of performative sculptural furniture pieces. The exaggerated forms are designed to demonstrate performative acts like manspreading, drawing attention to the absurdity and fragility of masculine performance. The work uses discomfort and reflection to open a conversation around how masculinity is embodied and judged, particularly for those whose identities fall outside heteronormative standards. By making these performances visible, Men Should encourages a more inclusive and critical understanding of gender expression.