Preview

Double Standard of Masculinity in Gender Role Socialization

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2574 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Double Standard of Masculinity in Gender Role Socialization
Masculinity is a topic that has been debated in our society extensively, through research as well as in informal settings. Many wonder what it means to be masculine, and if we can really assign a definition to such a subjective term. After all, shouldn't one's own perception be the determinant of what constitutes masculinity? This self-construction would be the ideal in our society, but unfortunately, it represents a false belief. Masculinity has certain characteristics assigned to it by our culture. In this paper I will explore the many facets of masculinity and demonstrate how certain beliefs pertaining to it are perpetuated in our society. I will also uncover many of the contradictions between society's assigned definition of masculinity and the expectation that males will somehow learn how to act contrary to that assigned and learned meaning.<br><br><b>Definition of Masculinity</b> <br>Men are primarily and secondarily socialized into believing certain characteristics are definitive in determining their manliness and masculinity. These characteristics range from not crying when they get hurt to being and playing violently. The socialization of masculinity in our society begins as early as the first stages of infancy. A child's burgeoning sense of self or self-concept is a result of the multitude of ideas, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs to which he is exposed (Witt 1997). Later in this paper the question of whether there are genetic factors will be discussed. However, to further my argument at this point, I will discuss masculinity as it is socially defined. From the outset of a boy's life he is socialized into the belief that he should be 'tough'. Often when boys get hurt, 'scrape their knee', or come whimpering to their mother or father, the fated words, "Little boys don't cry", issue forth. Children internalize parental messages regarding gender at an early age, with awareness of adult sex role differences being found in two-year-old children. One study


Bibliography: /b><br><li>Betcher, William R. et al. (1993) <u>In a time of fallen Heroes</u>. New York, NY, Macmillan Publishing Company. <br><li>Bowker, Lee H. (1998) <u>Masculinities and Violence</u>. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications, Inc.<br><li>Buss, David. (1994) <u>The Evolution of Desire</u>. New York, NY, St. Martin 's Press, Inc. <br><li>Gwartney, Debra. (October 17, 1998) "Double bind of boys concerns psychologists." <u>Oregon Times</u>.<br><li>Katz, Jackson. (1995) "Advertising and the Construction of Violent White Masculinity" In Dines, Gail and Humez, Jean. (Eds.) <u>Gender, Race and Class in Media</u>. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications. <br><li>Pollack, William. (1995) "Deconstructing Dis-identification: Rethinking psychoanalytic Concepts of male development." <u>Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy</u>. 12(1)30-45.<br><li>Stearns, Peter N. (1990) <u>Be A Man! Males in Modern Society</u>. New York, NY, Holmes & Meier Publishers, Inc.<br><li>Thompson, Neil. (1995) "Men and Anti-Sexism" <u>British Journal of Social Work</u>. 25(4)459-475.<br><li>Witt, Susan D. (1997) "Parental influence on children 's socialization to gender roles." <u>Adolescence</u>. 32(126)253-257.<br><li>Wrangham R. et al. (1997) <u>Relationship Violence in Demonic Males</u>. New York, NY, Routledge.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Analyzing Boyhood Organized Sports And The Construction Of Masculinities Summary
    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Analyzing Boyhood Organized Sports And The Construction Of Masculinities Summary

    The article written by Michael Messner explores what are some true contributing factors that prepare a young boy in male-hood leading up to masculinity. He analyzes how creating the male masculine identity for a young boy can be a result of participating in organized sports. He conducted his research starting out with interviewing 30 male athletes who mostly played baseball, basketball, football, and track. Each interviewee was retired and had at least been an athlete for 5 years.…

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code By Michael Kimmel
    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis Of Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code By Michael Kimmel

    The article “’Bros Before Hos’: The Guy Code” by Michael Kimmel, chronicles the negative perception that men have for the “weaker” man through a list of unwritten rules of men. It stated that this “guy code,” was or is, essentially, what defined masculinity. Many descriptions of weakness include homophobic words like “faggot” and “gay.” Words that pertain more to women, like “pussy” or “mama’s boy,” are also used as an insult to describe a man’s weakness. This is because of the low status that men had been taught throughout the years. Masculinity, Kimmel says, is attributed through peers, male figures in their lives, and a “hard-wired” definition of what being man means. Once a man steps outside of those lines, the risk is looking being emasculated.…

    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Kimmel's 'Boys Will Be Boys'
    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Summary Of Kimmel's 'Boys Will Be Boys'

    “Boys will be boys,” a commonplace phrase that constitutes a diffusion of responsibility away from the male perpetrators of aggressive attitudes and behaviors, supports a dangerous rhetoric that a young male transitioning into adulthood will perform acts of aggression, display a detached and uncaring disposition, and develop attitudes of intense homophobia and sexism as part of a biological norm of that stage of adolescence, a stage of life comprising a larger and larger part of young man’s life, ages 16-29. Kimmel challenges this rhetoric, arguing that there is an underlying culture of entitlement (as the gaining of equality by other groups such as women and minorities are perceived as a threat to privileges that the white man “deserves,” a zero-sum game of status) that is supported by a culture of silence (of refusing to bear witness to other men’s transgressions, which is perceived as support) and a culture of protection (in which communities shield “their” guys from the harsh implications and accountability) which allows these behaviors and attitudes to persist. Kimmel argues that…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analyzing Men-It's In Their Nature By Christina Hoff Sommers
    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Analyzing Men-It's In Their Nature By Christina Hoff Sommers

    The author, Christina Hoff Sommers, 2003 article entitle “Men-It’s in Their Nature” vividly discusses cultural rearing and social assumptions regarding semi-outdated preconceived notions of stereotypical male masculinity and its impact on an ever evolving modern society. She uses several types of rhetorical elements which are hyperbole, comparison/contrast, and paradox in this article.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Guyland Paper
    • 1269 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Guyland Paper

    In Guyland, Michael Kimmel chronicles the journey of young males and the issues they face while trying to exert their masculinity and prove themselves to their peers. Based on interactions among North American males between the ages of 16 and 26, Kimmel has found that at an age where young men had previously prepped for a life of work and committed relationships, they are now living in “Guyland” where they spend their time drinking, playing video games, and having immature relations with women. Kimmel explains that these young men are “frighteningly dependent on peer culture” and “desperate to prove their masculinity in the eyes of other boys.” (30) These young men live in constant fear that they will not measure up to the ideals of masculinity, which are wealth, power, status, strength, and physicality.…

    • 1269 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Masculinity In Michael Kimmel's Angry White Men
    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Masculinity In Michael Kimmel's Angry White Men

    What does it mean to be a “man?” Unfortunately, in American culture this is all too important of a question. According to sociologist, Michael Kimmel, being a (white) man entails having much anger, violence, and entitlement, which he describes further in his book: Angry White Men. These actions are also displayed in the 2007 film, The Departed, which follows the story of two white men on their journey to take on the Irish Mob along with the Massachusetts State Police Department. But, where do these actions come from? In this paper, I will be arguing that men in today’s society act out while trying to fulfill the ideal masculine role that is shaped by American society’s social expectations and social institutions including the family,…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Hegemonic Masculinity Analysis
    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Hegemonic Masculinity Analysis

    Exploring the construction of hegemonic masculinity, we go through a contradicting state of the definition of manhood. Although contradictions appear, it is socially adapted and able to reside without conflict. Take manhood as this, “We think of manhood as a transcendent tangible property that each man must manifest in the world” (Kimmel, 1994). Meaning that manhood is merely an idea which is drilled into a man’s head by society, “Gender, we said, was an achieved status” (West and Zimmerman, 2015) in other terms, manhood is a socially agreed upon idealization of how men should act or who they should be. In West and Zimmerman’s “Doing Gender”, Hegemonic masculinity is accomplished by the unavoidable categories of sex and gender and ways we act upon them; collaborating together in a socially constructed standard of how to be.…

    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hegemonic Masculinity In Canada
    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hegemonic Masculinity In Canada

    Masculinity and the ideals of manhood are not universal; place and time are factors of masculinity and hegemonic masculinity is no different. According to R.W Connell hegemonic masculinity is the one form of masculinity in society that has the most authority and influence on boys and men of that society. This form of masculinity sits at the top of the masculinity hierarchy and as a result those who attempt conform to hegemonic masculinity not only gain an advantage and privilege over other forms manhood but also over both genders (Connell, 171). However, because hegemonic masculinity is an unattainable ideal, men often go to extremes to confirm their masculinity to themselves and other men in their lives. Using the articles "’Talk About Strenuous…

    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Gender Stereotypes In The Film 'Tough Guise 2'
    • 524 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gender Stereotypes In The Film 'Tough Guise 2'

    These traits vary by location and context, and are influenced by social and cultural factors. It is important that we understand that behind the bravado and the tough guy posturing, there is human complexity in each man and boy: for some men and boys, the abuse they suffered as children; others their problems in relationships or their fears and vulnerabilities are stuck behind the stereotype they think they should be. Behind the guise is the real boy and man, the results of a sensitive, caring emotion filled man. Boys and men at a very early aged are taught to be tough, and told to “be a man”. Fathers, family members and TV shows are telling boys what they need to be at an early age. Making it hard for us to see behind the guise. “Many cultural analysts would argue that if you want to understand the meaning of something in society, look at its representation in the media”. Men are shown as something they are not able to uphold. Men are expected to be tough and strong throughout the media. Men think that women need strong, emotionless men to provide for them. I believe women, society and social media will not let men let go of this ego they are suppose to uphold. Women make it hard for us to examine mas because they like what they see in magazines and movies, This is all shown throughout the media and does not help us examine…

    • 524 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Masculinity In Canada
    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Masculinity In Canada

    Geoffrey Canada wrote in his book Reaching up for Manhood, "The image of male as strong is mixed with the image of male as violent. Male as virile gets mixed with male as promiscuous. Males as intelligent often gets mixed with male as arrogant, racist, and sexist." In this way many people define the masculinity and try to conform boys in these stereotypes which negative influence on boy’s development and behaviors. This image of masculinity started in antiquity and is still predominate in our days. Gender roles are distributed when babies are born by their parents then by the society. All these roles restrict men to behave like women and reverse. To have healthy society with healthy men we need to reexamine our attitude on the male education.…

    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Toxic Masculinity Analysis
    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Toxic Masculinity Analysis

    The goal of the project is to examine masculinity and the patriarchy and how it affects society and our day to day lives. In Talking Toxic Masculinity, Dana Raphael discusses the project; its reception by the media, its goals, and the reasoning and causes behind its establishment. Raphael defines toxic masculinity as the boundaries and attitudes that tell men what the only way to embody their gender is. She also points out the double standards that this concept of masculinity places on men and women. She further discusses the manifestation of violence that is a possibility, such as when Elliot Rodgers shot and killed multiple people near and on the campus of a university in California after being turned down by multiple women. The author calls people to dismantle the environment that allows the perpetrators of this violence to…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Path to Manhood
    • 1265 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Path to Manhood

    In “Manhood: The Elusive Goal”, Mark Gerzon argues that masculinity, or the "masculine code of conduct" is exemplified by smoking, drinking, and violence- acts that would be generally frowned upon in society. Mark Gerzon, attended Harvard University and was considered to be a best selling author by his senior year, due to his book "The Whole World is Watching: A Young Man Looks at Youth Dissent". Gerzon generally writes about topics dealing with men and masculinity in regard to modern day society. In "Manhood: The Elusive Goal", Gerzon reflects back on his own personal experience during his adolescent years, and how he wasn't considered to be masculine enough since he didn't conform or follow social protocol to becoming a man. He states that young boys are influenced by media and the rest of the world around them to be tough and hard, quick to use violence, and be wary of women. While pondering the questions, what is manhood and how does one achieve it, Gerzon concludes that since there are no defined rites of passage to manhood, a man must prove not what he is(a man), but instead what he is not, "anything that is feminine."(10). By using logical, credible and emotional appeal, as well as real life examples, such as sports and media, Gerzon successfully persuades his targeted readers- society in general, that there is no true defined rite of passage to manhood, and that the pressure put on young boys by society is harmful and ultimately leads to their downfall.…

    • 1265 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Outline Gender Roles In Society
    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Outline Gender Roles In Society

    Biology alone determines whether a person is female or male, not culture, but cultural myths outline the roles women and men play in society. These cultural myths constitute to the lack of differentiation between sex and gender, imposing the idea of nature versus nurture. While one is born either female or male due to biology, one’s culture ultimately makes one into a woman or a man. Society has predisposed images of what it means to be feminine or masculine. These gender roles limit the individual’s potential, making humans into performers that must conform to their “appropriate” roles. Being a man should not rely on appearing dominant, aggressive, or never admitting to weaknesses, nor should a woman’s life depend on her reproductiveness…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Gender Roles In Society
    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gender Roles In Society

    The phrase, “let the boys be boys.” before, is often repeated by parents regarding their sons. So what makes a boy, a boy? Bulging muscles? G.I. Joe like characteristics? Short hair? Wearing blue? Boys must learn what boys and men like, what they do, and even how they think and feel. Men are encouraged to act tough, strong, aggressive, and show no weakness. According to this…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Male Dominant Social Paradigm
    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Male Dominant Social Paradigm

    I think what sets me apart is my willingness and ability to challenge the male dominant social paradigm. I am not like many women because those who I speak with only seem to care about their jobs, shopping or relationships, but I focus more on the how to contribute to society, pursue knowledge, and compete, which is stereotypically aligned with males. This explains why so many men have told me, “you think like a man”. I know this is not always a compliment, but is a gender stereotype because they expect me to think like typical females, but I believe that I am as capable as men or better. I credit my commitment to intellectual endeavors to two strong women in my life.…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics