One of Kimmel’s main points in chapter 4 is the M-F test. Which was created in the 1930s, by Terman and Miles. Their main objective was to codify masculinity and femininity into their basic traits, attitudes, and behaviors. The result was that gender identity soon became associated with these perceived masculine or feminine traits. He then goes on to explain the ridiculous scoring method, the questions which to us now, seem to not even point at masculine or feminine traits. Then again I am a more tomboyish girl, so to me they seem arbitrary and insignificant. The test also included possible careers, such as forest ranger, librarian, (I’d like both of these as a career, weird to think how a job can have a perceived masculine or feminine trait- that’s some strange
In discussing the many facets of masculinity among young men, one key issue has been the correlation it has with several developmental concerns. In Michael Kimmel’s 2008 publication “Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code”, he talks about how men believe manhood is really achieved. More specifically, he talks about “Guy Code”, the universal rulebook that all men must follow if they wish to remain in good standing among their fellow man. These rules are taught as early as their toddler years. According to Kimmel, these seemingly standard ways of thinking could lead to something much worse, and ultimately effect their development. He mentions in his article, “Since stakes are so enormous, young men take huge chances to prove their manhood, exposing
Society has always forced women and men into gender roles that dictate what types of behaviors are acceptable, desirable, and appropriate for them despite their actual or perceived sex. Gender is a socially constructed form of identity but it is also racially constructed as well. Gender can be displayed through intersectional perspectives, you can discover many ways to display gender specifically in the culture of African Americans and how they differ from the dominate white culture. I am a Haitian American female and I found that through the pictures I captured of my friends, family members and I were of us inexplicably participating in gender and displaying femininity. I also observed my friends and family especially the men participating
Masculinity has been a heated debated topic over the past years. Not just america or europe, but our whole society. Men tend to think that entering manhood is a good thing, but most don’t know it can be just as detrimental to our society. Men have certain characteristic when it concerns to masculinity and when doing so it can have a range of effects. So, how do men identify themselves masculine and how do they define themselves that way? In Macbeth and The Mask You Live In, the characteristics of masculinity begins with the questioning or threatening of their manhood, which then leads to successive violence, and lastly, the desperate behavior that occurs when ashamed.
In Robert Jensen’s article “The High Cost of Manliness”, he states that the idea of masculinity is a bad thing and they should get rid of it. This article debates on the common stereotypes of men, as he states:
History has repeatedly given men privilege due to their physical advantages; yet it is these same advantages that have developed into “rules” or expectations that all men should conform to in order to prove their manhood. Michael Kimmel’s essay, “‘Bros Before Hos': The Guy Code” outlines the “rules” where men are expected to never show any emotions, be brave, act knowledgeable, be risk takers, be in control, act reliable, and be competitive, otherwise they would be showing weakness which is analogous to women. It is humiliating that men associate weakness with women; they should focus on the potential of the individual rather than their gender. Most insults toward men attack their masculinity because society finds it shameful for men to be
“Masculinity as Homophobia” an article by S. Kimmel, that talks about how men these days have the fear of being judged and ranked based on their manhood. There are some arguments that the Professor mentions and uses in his article that supports his argument and some experiences from other people 's perspective in life of men over the years.
Over time, the thought patterns of many individuals mould to believe only one perception of what is morally acceptable— a perception that is completely faulty. The ideology of the male body and demeanor is only one of the many societal norms constructed by the media, and it alone can result in mental health fatalities, mass violence, or the mere elimination of self-identity whilst attempting to meet the ever-changing ideals of masculinity. The continuous and stereotypical depiction of masculinity in the media has idealized invulnerability, toughness and physical strength as the sole qualities of a ‘true man’. As a result, the complexity of masculinity is flattened, and immense pressures are placed on individuals to meet requirements that are entirely faulty. According to Katz, cultures, topics, and even genders are not one-dimensional; in order to fully comprehend the meaning the entirety of something, one must look at more than its representation in the media.
There is a lot of pressure on men in society to be manly; however, what exactly does it mean to be manly? Though many people have different opinions, a lot of them conclude that a man has to be strong and somewhat emotionless to be considered a man. This assumption can lead to Toxic Masculinity, which is “A false idea that men are expected to be as manly as possible” (The Hard, Adrenaline-Soaked Truth About 'Toxic Masculinity, 2017). Men are forced to face these assumptions not only from those around him, but also from people he might see in Media. Media reinforces Toxic Masculinity which in turn causes men to belittle women. The types of media that encourage Toxic Masculinity are Television, Music, and Social Media.
In Things Fall Apart, direct characterization, as well as indirect characterization, are key tools in defining masculinity
In “Bros Before Hos: the guy code” written by Michael Kimmel the difference in response between men and women when asked what it like is to be them is thought of completely different between them. When women were asked the question was pretty irrelevant to them. But when the men were asked they started to describe something called “Guy Code” “the collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together compose what it is to be a man” (pp. 541). This guy code is how men have to carry themselves and if they do not then they are called “pussies” or “gay” again these ideas come from more men maybe fathers, uncles, grandfathers. This “guy code” men have to follow is not just to impress women “Masculinity is largely a homosocial experience: preformed for and judged by other men” (Pp. 543). Men judge other men is a constant cycle. Men are taught how to be men by other men how ever your father was raised is how you are going to be raised. Guy land is an unsafe place while growing up if you do one wrong thing you be called a big list of negative names. “everything that is perceived as gay goes into what we might call the negative playbook of guy land” says Michael Kimmel (pp. 545). This gender role playing thing begins as early as the age of five for men starting with phrases such as “boys don’t cry” this carries out through there middle age years carrying a wide range of rules followed by
In David Fincher’s, dramatic film “Fight Club”, Fincher develops satire to explain the masculinity of the main characters throughout the movie. Being masculine and or having masculinity, means qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness. Typically, men are seen to be strong, able to fight, have a large frame, and or be fearless. Men such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris are seen to society as Masculine men. However, some develop their masculinity later than others. In comparison to men, women are seen to be more modest, tender, and self-centered. Masculinity Is the social problem that David Fincher attacks in the film simultaneously using satire.
In the essay “Masculinity as Homophobia” by Michael Kimmel, he brings up many points as to how men view masculinity as trying to be perfect to hide underlying insecurity. He then states that anything deemed less than manly (females, people of race, homosexuals, etc.) is ridiculed because of the way we view masculinity. Kimmel first brings up a story about boys on a playground, where you have to prove that you’re manly at a young age, and that it is essentially engraved into our nature that we must not be a “sissy”. This then stems off to how violence is created by this sense of manhood, since we must always fight and never run when conflict arises. Kimmel argues that we have gender coded responses to everything, and that if a man does anything
Throughout the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, there are many references to the protagonist’s necessity to be recognized for his masculinity. Okonkwo, the protagonist, despises his father for his unsuccessfulness, and Okonkwo is motivated to become a prosperous man. His fear of being weak determines his actions in difficult situations, which causes an internal conflict. Eventually, this fear overwhelms Okonkwo, and he commits suicide. Okonkwo’s desire to be masculine in opposition to his father creates an internal conflict established in his fear of being thought weak, which ultimately leads to his death.
Masculinity refers to the qualities, personality traits and roles that are associated with the male gender. In the 21st century, there has been a movement, a drive in the more socially aware sections of the world to equalize or balance out masculinity and femininity. Feminism or, at least the main stream feminism aims to find equality for the females in social, political and economical fields. Even today, as we work forward to find a middle ground for the two genders, masculinity is seen as the superior quality that only men are privileged to have. Hence, main stream feminism is so focused on emancipating women by encouraging them to let go of the ‘weaker’ feminine qualities and roles and fit themselves in a Man’s world by embracing masculinity