Benson Lin
Professor Owen
English Composition
15 January 2023
Two Coins to Masculinity
Masculinity has long been a source of controversy, as different society have their own varying standards of what it means to be a “real man”. In recent years, our society has shifted to view traditional masculinity traits more in a negative light, commonly referring to them as toxic masculinity. A couple examples would be men suppressing their emotions because it’s a sign of weakness, or the idea that they must compete against and dominate others. Such behaviors can have destructive effects for both men and women. Thus, some people believe it’s imperative to reduce toxic masculinity if we want to create a safe and equitable environment for everyone.
The op-ed,
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To me, the issue with toxic masculinity doesn’t lie in the associated traits or behaviors, but rather the intention behind performing them. To illustrate, it is still imperative in modern day for men to be both physically and/or mentally resilient for numerous reasons. A man has to be physically strong in order to take on hard labor work, such as coal mining, bricklayer, logging workers, etc., as well as be mentally resilient to endure hardship and provide a sense of security for the family. However, the problem is that men aren’t developing their masculinity with virtuous intents in mind, and are rather becoming physically and/or mentally resilient for mostly shallow and self-centered causes, such as seeking attention/admiration, trying to gain power and control, or aggressively asserting dominance over others. These sorts of intentions for developing masculinity is the main issue to me. To sum it up, I don’t think the issue lies in the traditional traits or behaviors, but rather the lack of virtue and misuse of …show more content…
By doing this, we can help them understand how to develop the positive aspects of traditional masculinity, such as leadership, courage, protection, etc., while avoiding destructive ones, such as aggression, violence and sexism. These values will help men to become capable individuals who can make responsible decisions and lead others in times of hardship, while simultaneously preventing them from becoming the violent and sexist men that individuals like Sexton feared. In effect, it would create a healthier society, for both men and women. Furthermore, it will also help those who think tradition masculinity is harmful see the positive aspect of it, which can help bridge the gap between the two sides. All in all, while this solution may not resolve the entire issue at hand, it’s certainly a place to start if we want to begin seeing change. After all, it’s the very same method practiced by our current society, with the difference being that we teach them to become masculine not to be seen as powerful and domineering, but to build the strength and courage to protect their loved ones, make positive contributions, and ultimately create a healthier, safer society for
Society should not base masculinity with these traits since it is learned by observation and demonstration, and this leads men to disconnect their emotions. The author is trying to take away the blindfold on society's eyes because there is an injustice towards men and woman. These aspects of masculinity are how men are taught to be, but if we remove, eliminate, or ignore those aspects and misconceptions men will express their emotions openly without having to restrict themselves and be able to fit in society or at least feel like they are a part of the society. As you can see these views make men disconnect with their emotional side Jensen mentions this when he gives the example of his friend that worked on Wall Street and his friend described it as “coming to work as like walking into a knife fight when all the good spots along the wall were taken” (131). If we stop identifying masculinity as conquest, men would stop trying to be competitive, dominant, and even violent men might not need to always be on their guard to keep this appearance all the
However, when the media talks about this violence, it becomes a “youth problem instead of a men’s issue” (Tough Guise Film), and the few times that gender is acknowledged, it is excused as testosterone, or boys will be boys. The reality of this mindset, and the violence that goes along with it, is that the traditional idea of “masculinity” is portrayed through male dominance and aggression, this in turn is presented throughout the violence we see in the media. Rape, murder, and other forms of assault occur because of the mindset that we as a culture perpetuate. When we continue the standards of what “masculinity” is and continue excusing the actions that result from those standards, we harm not only the individuals involved, but also society as a whole. Similarly to how violence can harm an individual male by implanting the idea that he must live up to impossible standards of “masculinity,” damage can be caused to males through the
In a society where we fight for equal rights all over the world, one would think that the emotional freedom of men and women would not be one. Today, men are still held hostage emotionally and are unable to express themselves without ridicule freely. In the article “Toxic Masculinity,” Callie Zimmerman suggests that males face many hardships simply because they are forced to exhibit a degrading state of manhood (web). Toxic masculinity holds true by pointing out the history of this misconception and providing insight for one to relate, understand and change these views in one’s life. Men are often held to a higher standard than women with masculinity being the most important part of their existence.
Psychologists define toxic masculinity as, “the notion that some people’s idea of “manliness” perpetuates domination, homophobia, and aggression. Toxic masculinity involves cultural pressures
After watching the film Tough Guise, the main message of the film is that men are responsible for the majority of violent crimes, and this has to do with what the mainstream media shows, and the upbringing young men have in the United States. Men from an early age are taught to adhere to standards and stereotypes such as to not cry, to not show emotion, to not step down from confrontation, and to not act feminine. When men watch movies, listen to music, and play video games, much of the things they consume are violent or misogynistic. There are thousands of movies with hardcore violence, video games where you break the law and kill people, and music with suggestive themes that lyricize with murder, sex, and objectifying women. This idea of a “tough guise” or toxic masculinity has a significant impact on society because it perpetuates, unrealistic standards for men, while promoting violence and aggression that has been shown to affect women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community.
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
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.
Marjory Nicolle Duque Prof. Helen Lee Masculinity, Modernity, and Men June 17, 2023 Layers of Masculinity: Societal Expectations and Family Dynamics Masculinity, as the societal construct that encompasses the qualities, behaviors, and roles expected of men, is constantly changing over time, and its definition continues to be a never-ending discussion. However, despite the fluidity of masculinity, societies persistently impose expectations on men to conform to certain norms and assimilate into predefined gender roles. Nevertheless, there emerges a profound tension between societal expectations and the desires of individuals who may reject or challenge traditional notions of masculinity. This defiance can lead to a disruption of social stability,
Masculinity is slowing killing men; with all the pressure and expectations that man have to be a certain image, this can cause many negative effects which can lead to many dangerous and serious situations. Due to all these expectations many bad habits can form such as alcoholism, violence and workaholism. This peer pressure can cause men to have depression or engage in many risky activities that will effect there life in many negative ways, such as injuring themselves. In the article it states that “little boys are, in fact, slightly more sensitive and expressive than little girls” (Kali Holloway). Even though
Not only is this idea of masculinity toxic- it 's also unachievable. Men are constantly needing to prove themselves to society. This feeling of incompleteness can lead to many issues throughout their lives. Young boys don 't develop the kinds of relationships or emotional capabilities that they once had.
Unfortunately, toxic masculinity plays a role in every society, therefore many people, mostly men, put on a “mask” to hide behind in order to make a false impression of their best selves. No matter who it is, everyone has a way that they want people to know them by, which is why it plays such an important role. The book Lord of the Flies is a fiction text about a group of young boys whose plane crashes after it was shot down during a war. The boys turn from civilized to savages on their long journey on the island as they become less and less of a society. Toxic masculinity affects society in more ways than one and often is used to get ahead or to be seen as superior.
The documentary Tough Guise 2 sheds light on a hidden truth to how men respond to threats on their masculinity and how masculinity is continuously reinforced. Jackson Katz reports that men commit the most violent crimes including mass shootings, and rapes. Katz points out that the reason why this is, is due to the fact that men are expected to be tough and aggressive, and if they feel their masculinity is threatened they respond with violence. Mass media also contributes to the ideal masculinity by creating aggressive games, and films that portray men violently. Katz emphasizes that male violence has become so common it has basically became a norm among
I hope to persuade you to read into the issues regarding toxic masculinity, and
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.
Masculinity (also called boyhood, manliness or manhood) is a set of attributes, behaviors and roles generally associated with boys and men. But the culture doesn’t end at the definition, it starts from there. The first thing to come to mind when the word masculinity is heard is usually a man flexing his gigantic muscles, as the word might sound to suggest, and that right there is the current culture of masculinity because sadly, in the world we live in, not everyone has a “muscular body”. So far we know the concept of masculinity, but the culture is what is truly hampering.