Men's Behavior Men, knowingly or unwittingly, are at a crossroads with regards to their gender-behavior, but deciding which road to take is not always an easy or a lucid choice. The social pressures men encounter from a very early age are forceful and all encompassing, with very little exceptions. These pressures are akin to those societal pressures women face with having a perfect body and both of these pressures would cancel each other out, if Stoltenberg's ideas existed. The force, which has been building against the age old conception of manhood, is gaining strength and the time is coming when all men will have to make the crossing. Stoltenberg calls for men to trade their manhood for their selfhood. Many men can be as unique as Stoltenberg claims, when they are alone, but, too often, when grouped with other men, they seem to lose their identity. Stoltenberg states that some men choose to go along with sexism so that they won't have to avoid men. He also says that men are comfortable among other sexist men because they can build their own little world, where women have no significance. "I have already said that I don't intend to waste a word on the puny, narrow-chested, short-winded crew whom we are leaving astern. Pulsating life no longer concern itself with them. I am thinking of the few amongst us, who have absorbed new and vigorous truths. Such men was, as it were, at the outposts, so far ahead of the compact majority has not yet been able to come up with them; and there they are fighting for truths that are too newly-born into the world consciousness to have any considerable number of people on their side as yet." Ironically, these words from "An Enemy of the People" convey what is exactly at the crux of the problems facing the conception of manhood. Not enough men are rising to meet the new ideal of manhood and those opposing any change are the "compact majority."
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
In his perspective “two chief destinies of men” are the soldiers and toilers. Yet, he learnt they were not the only two from same gender teachers, books and…
- 1149 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
“What I’ve been saying (and believing without realizing it) is that male value ultimately depends on reducing women to physical symbols of masculine superiority,” (Godsey 121). He makes continual references to the suffering that women have endured for decades, due to mans’ pleasures, and then abruptly returns to the society today. This exemplifies Godsey’s own personal confusion referencing his self- stability, causing doubt as to his credibility on the matter he chose to discuss, and his persona in general (ethos). As Godsey furthers to rant and rave about the mistreatment of men and the standards of masculinity that men must live to today, he completes each idea with attacks similar to “It’s like I’m a woman. My self-esteem frequently depends on how I see my body,” (Godsey 117). By making such obnoxious accusations, Godsey’s effectiveness plummets. He argues for the sake of women and their mistreatment by society, and then whips around and makes the worst of stereotypical announcements and on the behalf of women.…
- 702 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
| The narrator has drawn a distinct line between men and women. Perhaps this foreshadows a theme of "the role of women in a man's world". Also in order to have that kind of perspective, I believe the narrator has to be a woman otherwise the narrator could not be that precise about how a woman thinks.…
- 1005 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Manhood in western societies is pre-programmed, pre-packaged and forced-fed to boys from birth to adulthood. Historically the puriest example of a real man was the military standard. Military manliness dictates that a man must be strong, both physically and mentally, a man must be unfeeling and must be loyal to their fellow commrades. Men must show a certain level of respect for women but never acknowledge them as equal.…
- 671 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
What it means to “be a man” should be defined individually for people internally, rather than by what others want to impose. Macomber became so consumed with his desire to fulfill Wilson’s idea of masculinity that he ultimately became victimized. He may have seemed elated on the surface, but his happiness was not true in the sense that it was coming from an outside definition that had no credibility in being able to actually define what a true “man”…
- 1385 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
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 -
Focusing on physical weight of the burdens that the soldiers carry, O’Brien leaves their emotional burdens unaddressed and submerged in the subtext; the subtext reveals the incredibly burdensome weight of societal expectations and gender norms that these men face. The stereotypical manly behavior of the characters clashes with their true morals and conscience. O’Brien suggests that by imitating the stereotypes associated with manhood the boys prohibit themselves from maturing into rational adults.…
- 72 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
“Manhood” was a very sociological and physiological concept. In the antebellum period, manhood was based upon one’s inner self and how he acted as a Christian gentlemen. By the end of the nineteenth century, manhood was defined by aggressiveness and physical control. Men found control through physical violence, which was the exclusive domain of men and men only. Men used violence to confirm the status of their manhood in the years of the Civil War, the terror campaign of the KKK, and America’s Imperial expansion in the late 19th century. The actions of men during these times were built upon their conception of “manhood” as being physically tough and aggressive.…
- 1323 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
World War Two was an important time in the history of gender and masculinity. This paper will discuss why and how masculinity was important during World War Two and what it represented. During the time of World War Two and afterwards, masculinity was regarded and represented in many different aspects. Some of the aspects of masculinity involved was: the American soldiers, their sexual needs, and the Germans view on masculinity.…
- 539 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In the passage of “The Men We Carry in Our Minds” by Scott Russell Sanders, the author discusses about his view on men and women. “When the women I met at college thought about the joys and privileges of men, they did not carry in their minds the sort of men I had known in my childhood” (172), the meaning is the way one believes women and men are about, along with their experiences with women and men throughout their lives. The author’s perception on men is the absolute opposite of what the women in his class think. When the women thought of men,, they thought of men like their fathers, “who were bankers, physicians, architects, stockbrokers, and the big wheels of the big cities” (172).…
- 704 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
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 -
competency significantly for leadership ratings. The findings do not support the bulk of previous findings on…
- 6021 Words
- 25 Pages
Powerful Essays -
True women and real men are only the image that children have been brought up to become as they grow. Little boys aren’t always hardwired to like only dinosaurs and trains. This is just the same as how girls don’t necessarily choose to play with dolls. Even colors such as blue and pink are made to be associated for specific genders at an early age. The concept is just a grouping of stereotypical male and female characteristics that don’t necessarily always apply to individuals in either gender. Examples include such statements as that men must not show emotion and that men believe the most important thing is sex. Masculinity is also thought to be displayed by a man who is able to provide for his family by holding a job and excelling at a profession. However, a hate of having to commit and to always act tough in all situations isn‘t in all male genes. Sometimes men in many cases actually greatly value a woman’s loyalty. A female can be independent and successful without a husband or any other men in her life. They take up jobs and strive…
- 1936 Words
- 8 Pages
Good Essays -
Gender Journal Entry Nine Today I am reflecting on something I used to say to regarding my lack of female friends. I often blamed this on how dramatic women are, and explained I couldn’t handle the emotions on top of my own. I realize now that it was wrong of me to stereotype all women, and use dramatic as a loaded word. As a bi-sexual, who is equally attracted to both figures physically, I also found that this was a common answer when I am asked now about why I didn't settle down with a woman. Now I realize we, as women, are just more comfortable sharing our emotions be it good or bad.…
- 1361 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
In this article, the author mentioned that one participant’s story of how Raft No.4 fared on the Rogue. What is more, it specifies to describe the power relationship between the sexes. In the whole trip on a raft, the men unhappy when a women as helmsperson, and the men had subconsciously and proceeded to undermine the women by habit. However, when a man was in charge, they always feel comfortable, and worked to help him be a better helmsperson. In fact, there are many people like John and the other two men in the organization. In other word, the author considers that men often unconsciously desire to protect their power from women’s control in organizations as the situation happened on Raft No.4 on the Rogue River. Generally speaking, men usually want to control the whole things and do the sabotaging behavior to the women.…
- 528 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays