Dominance Manhood
None
Traits of dominance-based masculinity present in the media.
Questioning of Dominance
Many
Characters questioning or suffering from dominance norms.
Relational Manhood
Many
Traits of relational, connected masculinity.
New Amsterdam is a show whose entire dramatic premise is structured around the rejection of dominance manhood values in medicine and in life. All four main male characters are defined by emotional openness, caregiving, collaboration, and the willingness to ask for and receive help. It’s also the only mainstream American network drama to portray male body dysmorphia and an eating disorder with sustained, unflinching depth, explicitly rooted in a father’s masculine body shaming. The series offers wonderful depictions of Relational Manhood, though it largely shows these values more than it voices them.