The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relationship of the male identity from a social construct which pertains to the process of time. This will thus further propose social practises that undermine the ambiguities of the male gender which often have signifiers of masculinity that men use in the dialogue of social power and the affirmation of Mass Media. This chauvinism will be examined with a feminist perspective which will demonstrate masculinity in the form violence using Fight Club strictly as an example. What this paper attempts to show are the factors of economic status, social context, sexual orientation and heroism through the concept of consumerism.
According to Dictionary (n.d), masculinity is traditionally attributed to the root of social (one`s gender) rather than biological (one`s sex). Therefore these leave the conventions of masculinity to be exploited or rather, to be re-invented by the both the male and female behaviour. The merits of such enriched circumstances make one consider what it means to be masculine and what constitutes to how they see themselves in society.
Central to the discipline of a social framework, traditional male roles have been exposed as myths by the feminist movement. Men are perceived as the breadwinners, powerful, dominant, protective, brave, active and unemotional (Slideshare, n.d). The contemporary male has lost relation with his masculine core. Thus we examine dehumanizing effects of the obsession of the corporate consumerist paradigm (possessions, car, clothes, happiness, job etc.) by the repressed, conspicuous, if not exaggerated, besieged, raw and waning masculinity which has moulded the feminization of Man and replaced traditional male symbols such as strength and honour in...
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...lays of violence which an attempt to find their inner ‘man’ are somehow, as I argue, terrorism as the testosterone becomes an overbearing biological and spiritual war (Neutral Magazine). We examine this when Bob who had his manhood taken away from him becomes the Narrators symbol for his predicament. Bob was treated for testosterone but instead his betrayed him by feminising him with breasts due to having responded with oestrogen (Neutral Magazine, 2014). However, this allows for aggressive masochism male bonding – as opposed to the feminised manly bonding. Within their social construct, these men have no particular enemy to fight against hence they fight themselves and each other (Neutral Magazine, 2014). So in essence, they are very much powerless because it does not become a hegemonic expression but instead a fragile one in the context of masculine transition.
The topics that Joe Ehrmann uses as framework for his Building Men for Others program are quite intriguing and make you really question masculinity. The first topic, rejecting false masculinity, can be interpreted a few different ways. In the book, it states: “As young boys, we’re told to be men, or to act like men” soon followed with “we’ve got all these parents say ‘be a man’ to boys that have no concept of what that means. I completely agree with the statement of Joe Ehrmann and often question the definition of ‘being a man’. Many boys and men will reject the idea of a man being anything other than being big and strong or having power.
In Gail Bederman’s Manliness and Civilization, she aims to describe the concepts of manliness and masculinity at the turn of the century. Bederman explains that the concept of what it means to be a man is ever changing as a result of the ideology of the time as well as the material actions of the men. During the Progressive Era, many forces were at work that put pressure on the supremacy of white, middle class men. Some of these forces included the growing move toward empowered women, the unionization of the working class, and the move from self-employment to big, corporate business. She delves into the way that both racism and sexism were used to build up the concept of masculinity and the turn of the century discourse on civilization.
In the essay, “The High Cost of Manliness,” writer Robert Jensen discusses the harmful effects of having male specific characteristics, such as masculinity. Jensen realizes that men’s actions and ways of living are judged based upon the characteristic of being manly. He argues that there is no valid reason to have characteristics associated with being male. Society has created the notion that masculinity is the characteristic that defines males as males.
The concept of masculinity is considered as the qualities and characteristics of a man, typical what is appropriate to a man. In this article, A Community Psychology of Men and Masculinity: Historical and Conceptual Review, The author Eric S. Mankowski and Kenneth I. Maton, analyze four main themes: "Men as gendered beings, the privilege and damage of being a masculine man, men as a privileged group, and men’s power and subjective powerlessness. The second and fourth themes are described as
In the reading, Playing in the Gender Transgression Zone, McGuffey & Rich argue that the ways youth build their “hierarchy” in school, camps, etc. can explain the way ‘gendering’ in society’ happens and why. It discusses how boys are seen as the high status members of society. This is a result of the ideology of hegemonic masculinity. This says that there is a predominant way of doing gender relations that elevates the status and privileges of masculinity over femininity. This establishes a socially constructed level of male social power and explains why male dominance continues on past the middle school ages. Men still have high status in higher level of social organization, especially political/ governmental institutions.
In the text, The High Cost of Manliness, writer Robert Jensen discusses the harmful effects of having male specific characteristics such as masculinity. It has come to his attention that men’s actions and ways of living are judged based upon the characteristic of being manly. Jenson argues that there is no valid reasoning to have characteristics associated with males. Society has created the notion that masculinity is the characteristic that defines males as males.
Manhood had not always existed; it was created through culture. Depending on the era, masculinity claimed a different meaning. But in all of its wandering definitions, it consistently contains opposition to a set of “others,” meaning racial and sexual minorities. (pp.45) One of the first definitions was the Marketplace Man, where capitalism revolved around his success in power, wealth, and status. A man devoted himself to his work and family came second. Although this is one of the first standing definitions, it still finds its spot in today’s definition, where masculinity consists of having a high paying job, an attractive young wife, and
In the Macho Paradox Katz explores the issue of violence against women, but emphasizes the importance of men taking this issue personally and understanding its relevance for themselves and the women in their lives. Katz creates a personal connection to violence against women for the male audience of his book by emphasizing the statistical likelihood of them each knowing a survivor of violence. Katz uses the idea of knowing a survivor to make the issue of violence both personally relatable and relevant for men, with the intention of using this relatability as a catalyst for action and as a means of creating pathways for men to understand their importance as allies in the fight against gendered violence.
Men that carry out the “machismo way of life” feel that they have to constantly prove their manhood to the world. This is generally achieved by behaving in an aggressive manner among other men, also females are looked upon as objects and the more women you seduce, the manlier you are. This type of behavior is given praise by other men and by society in general, thus encouraging men to keep on behaving in this macho manner. Another way in which men carry out this macho life style is by a...
In the views of Micheal Kimmel “hegemonic masculinity” is a socially constructed process where men are pressured by social norms of masculine ideals to perform behaviors of a “true man” and its influence on young male’s growth. It is the ideology that being a man with power and expressing control over women is a dominant factor of being a biological male. The structure of masculinity was developed within the 18th to 19th century, as men who owned property and provided for his family with strength related work environments was the perfect example of being a generic “American man.” Kimmel introduces Marketplace Manhood and its relation to American men. He states, “Marketplace Masculinity describes the normative definition of American masculinity.
Robinson, S. (2011). Feminized Men and Inauthentic Women Fight Club and the Limits of Anti-Consumerist Critique. Genders Online Journal, Spring(53), 3. Retrieved January 31, 2014, from http://www.genders.org/g53/g53_robinson.html
Masculinity is a subject that has been debated in our society for quite some time. Many wonder what it means to be masculine, as it is difficult to define this one –sided term. Pairing this already controversial term with “feminist studies” can bring about some thought - provoking conversation. Feminist studies of men have been around for many years with regards to the feminist movement. It seeks to create gradual improvements to society through its main principle of modifying the ways in which everyone views what it means to be a man. Feminist studies of men bring forth the discussion of hegemonic masculinity; how this contributes to the gender hierarchy, the radicalized glass escalator and ultimately the faults of this theory.
... rules and formal structure. Finally the masculinity of a culture depends on the level of clarification between male and female values and roles. A masculine society is characterised by having defined roles for each gender, where success and material possessions are highly valued. At the other end of the scale, a feminine society has a stronger focus on supporting and caring for others, and less emphasis on quantifiable belongings and roles for men and women.
Masculinities are not identities that given, but men try for size. Different masculinities can be hierarchal and related with another such as hegemonic masculinity supports gender inequality, complicit masculinity is men who benefit from hegemonic masculinity, subordinated masculinity is oppressed by definition of hegemonic masculinity and marginalized masculinity is gender power but not terns of race/class. Kane (2013) explains that boys in particular balance an effort with producing masculinity and hegemonic ideals. This act is evident to parents regardless
Masculinity and femininity are two terms, which have been interpreted differently throughout history. Both the males and the females have responsibilities and duties but these duties differ based on one’s gender. Gender has played a prodigious role in the economy, politics, and the society. Everyone starts making interpretations of the strengths and weaknesses based on one’s gender. These interpretations are not always based on his or her ability but is usually based on his or her gender. Males tend to be judged as extremely strong and unfashionable in terms of appearance. Whereas, females are judged as expensive and very fashionable. Males and females both differ in their abilities and their enjoyments. Fashion, entertainment, and strength are three topics, which are used to define masculinity and femininity in the 21st century.