Also, I Kimmel’s writing, he listed four basic rules on masculinity. The first rule he listed was “No Sissy Stuff,” which means to guys that they shouldn’t reveal their weakness to anyone. The second on the list was “Be a Big Wheel,” which means that masculinity is quantifying between “wealth and power.” The third rule is to “Be a Sturdy Oak,” this says that all guys must be dependable
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.
This isn’t always a good thing. Men want the approval of other men because they are terrified of being called words like “sissy” and “gay”. Kimmel asked many men where they get the ideas of being a man. He explains that “The response was consistent: Guys hear the voices of the men in their lives – fathers, coaches, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, priests – to inform their ideas of masculinity” (471). The relationships these men have/had with others played a role in the way they thought of themselves.
For multiple years, young boys and men have struggled to keep up with society's mental image of what a man should look, act, and be like. From the minute they are brought into this world, boys mostly always already have an idea of what they should be as they get older. They are brainwashed with the mentality that they have to be this rugged, strong, fit persona. And most boys will do anything it takes in order to achieve that attribute to feel some sort of acceptance by society. Having these ¨manly¨ attributes is not always what determines a boy from having the label of being a man.
This would lead one to hypothesize that Gay believes that masculinity is less about what makes you a man, and more about what kind of man you are.
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
This furthers my point that men seek to advance their masculinity and power, to boast their status to other males. It is a part of their subconscious, a mentality inflicted onto them by a societal norm that is reinforced each and every
The article “Men Are Stuck in Gender Roles, Data Suggest,” by Emily Reyes explains how drastically different men and women roles are. Reyes goes on to say that women are looked at in a positive light when breaking the norm and showing a more masculine side to themselves, while men, on the other hand, do not get the same reaction when being more feminine. It is a very hypocritical way of thinking since women have been asked to be treated the same way as men. Why can’t men be treated the same way as women and have the same acceptance? In Reyes passage she goes on to say that a professor named Barbara Risman made a point by saying “If girls call themselves tomboys, it’s with a sense of pride.
In the novel Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, the protagonist David’s obsession with maintaining a traditionally masculine façade is what leads to the demise of all of his relationships. David’s masculine presentation and insecurity over his own homosexuality are frowned upon by Western society in the 1950s, the novel’s setting. This general societal consensus leads to David’s internalization of homophobia, eventually leading to the ruin of his relationships with family, friends, lovers, and himself. Western society’s view of homosexuality and masculinity at that time is the primary reason for the expiry of David’s relationships.
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.
Since long ago, we have considered men/women who just looked like men/women (varies with cultures) as males and females and have sought for things that would strengthen the intensity of masculinity/femininity. In “Night to His Day”, Judith Lorber notes, “Even societies that do not cover women’s breasts have gender-identifying clothing, scarification, jewelry, and hairstyles” (Judith, p100), and says, “When unisex clothing… beards and mustaches for men also came into style again as gender identifications”. Judith Lorber, citing those historical facts, clearly demonstrated the fact that people seek for things that would solidify
“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. The author’s main argument is about how men these days are being watched and judged closely based on how they walk, talk, eat, dress, move and look like. The author explains how the world is judging men and how it tries to take that power and that pride of being a man.
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?
C.J. Pascoe, in her book Dude, You’re a Fag, argues that heterosexuality and dominant masculinity are inextricably linked. In order for boys to assert their masculinity, they must comply with the social processes that Pascoe calls “compulsive heterosexuality.” Compulsive heterosexuality builds on the concept of compulsory heterosexuality, a theory coined by researcher Adrienne Rich which refers to heterosexuality as political institution that enforces heterosexuality on women as a means of ensuring male dominance through “physical, economic, and emotional access” (86), and constructs alternative sexualities as “the other.” Compulsive heterosexuality encompases a myriad of sexualilzed gender performances and rituals, not merely to affirm one’s
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.