Exploring Male Stereotypes in 'Guys vs. Men'

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Recommended: How society influences gender roles

Danielle Torres
English 111
Carol Kaiser
26 February 2017
“Guys vs Men” Textual Analysis
Dave Barry’s essay “Guys vs. Men” presents that the term “Man” grants more negative qualities in males, unlike the term “Guy”, which, allows guys to be free to indulge in stereotypical characteristics. Barry arouses readers by using amusing comparisons, similarities, and engaging punch lines to support his view on the distinct differences between guys and men. Barry argues the idea that man is a term that comes with responsibility, and has unwritten expectations for guys. Additionally, in correspondence he suggests the possibility that there are other ways to view males as just a “guy,” rather than being characterized as masculine. Therefore, Barry uses gender-based generalizations to capture the purpose of the passage
Barry purposely detaches the two forms of males in order to personally describe the guy’s characteristics in his own terms. Throughout Guys vs. Men, Barry utilizes negative …show more content…

Barry explains that guys uphold a different manner when dealing with certain situations. . Later, he briefly mentions the difference in guys and women, such as women being portrayed as constant thinkers. Barry utters, "She'll be sound asleep in bed, and suddenly at 2 a.m., and she'll be awakened by an urgent thought: The blue-green sofa needs to go perpendicular to the wall instead of parallel, and it needs to go there RIGHT NOW” (942). While attempting to distinguish guys and women, Barry clarifies that although women are constantly thinking, guys do not think similarly. . Barry tells the readers that guys do things together, for instance—watching and discussing sports games in their groups,, using high tech devices for minimal work and later upgrading to follow the existing patterns. For instance, a guy will buy a computer with the highest level of technology, despite the possibility of him not using

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