The Characteristics Of Masculinity And Manhood

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“It’s a man’s world” is a phrase used often to describe the gender biases of the world. Gender is a social construction put onto sex. Sex is determined by reproductive parts that we are born with , all the while gender is a category the sexes are put into. In these different categories there are various characteristics and attributes each have. Being a man is defined by the level of manhood one obtains. Michael Kimmel says, “ We think of manhood as a thing, a quality that one either has or doesn’t have. We think of manhood as innate, residing in the particular biological composition of the human male, the result of androgens or the possession of a penis”(Kimmel, 80-81). Since manhood can only be possessed by a person with penis and manhood …show more content…

“Man-hood is not the manifestation of an inner essence; it is socially constructed. Manhood does not bubble up to consciousness from our biological makeup; it is created in culture. Manhood means different things at different times to different people”(Kimmel,81). Not every male is credited with manhood. Some numbers of the LGBTQI community are deemed too feminine or not manly enough to have a manhood. Masculinity is an attribute expected of men. Bringing home the bacon, being intellectual, being fit, tale and a overall neanderthal, being a player or ladies’ man are some characteristics of masculinity. "Marketplace Masculinity describes normative definition of American masculinity. It describes his characteristics of aggression,competition, anxiety..."(Kimmel,84). Some gay men are often called Queens or are seen as women because of their sexual orientation and attraction to men. Being attracted to men makes gay and bisexual men being attracted to men makes gay men seen as feminine which is in turn that thing in our patriarchal society. Men often call other men derogatory female terms as in pussy, bitch, hoe etc to lower than masculine stance. "Historically and developmentally masculinity has been defined as the flight from women the repudiation of femininity" (Kimmel, 85). Since members of the LGBTQI community are seen to have a connection with feminine ways they are not seen as masculine therefore they are in incorporated into American

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