Our society is filled with a host of acceptable terms that we are forced to internalize. Many of these concepts have elaborate theoretical definitions, without unambiguous explanations . One such concept is masculinity. Masculinity for the purpose of this blog ,is manly character. It specifically describes men and boys, that is personal and human, unlike male which can also be used to describe animals, or masculine which can also be used to describe noun classes
How do you begin to tackle this sociological phenomenon? Do we start from the current state of men in our community? Should we talk about the factors or forces that pressure men to be "masculine". Despite the angle I will come from, I will seek to address a host of issues associate with masculinity today! I will try to pave a clear path for a rocky argument. I will simply speak on the "Mars" Dilemma ( continual conflicts that arise from male identity).
Masculinity in of itself is a easy concept to understand, it's simply manly characteristics. The difficult part of this concept are the factors that are associated with it. One factor I want to talk about are the pressures to be "manly" that is place on males in our society. When a baby boy is first born we start the " masculinity" identity process by simply identifying particular clothing that a boy should wear. We adorn the boy in colors like blue,red, green and other dark shades. From these colors people will identify the baby as a boy even if by physicality they look like a girl. If we see a baby wearing yellow we automatically associate it with being a girl.
Another pressure that is place on males takes place when they are around the age of five. We tell boys that they must "man up". They are not allowed to show emotions ( cry) or anything traditionally associated with famine behavior. They must be tuff ! We also tell them that boys are not supposed to play with dolls but rather action figures. If they do play with dolls they are deemed a " sissy". Action Figures are more appropriate because they involved physical action and aggressive combat.
Once that boy matures in age, the societal pressures to be a man become greater. During the high school years he often has to take on the dominant male role in his house hold . The young man must carry out the maintenance of the home internally and externally. From tediously cleaning up the kitchen and taking out the garbage to cutting the grass and painting the porch the young man is responsible. One interesting thing that comes from this labor is the comment that follows if the young man does not comply. Parents say to him " you must be a man and take responsibility".
At the ripe age of eighteen the young man hears the ever provoking statement , " You must get a job, if a man dose not work he does not eat". From this statement we conclude that being a man involves working hard and providing . While I don't disagree with this sentiment I believe that there are other necessities a man needs to be effective in society. We usually do not put a strong emphasis on education. Education is seen as an option! Community members often say the stupidest comment of all times, " College is not for everyone". Suggesting that higher education is for an elite group of people with extraordinary talents. The sad reality is that one day this young man will be a father and will pass his value system on to his children. Everything he vales good or bad will be transferred unto his offspring. Creating another generation that does not view education as essential to survival.
Between the ages of twenty and fifty the man must maintain his male mystique and sustain himself and all that fall under his care. He must deal with the constant voices in his life that want him to complete task, listen, give and take advice and the list continues. After this time period he reaches the brink of "Elder hood". Elder hood is where he must become a community advisor and guardian of traditions in his sphere of influence. In this stage men often feel like they must teach and instruct the youth on life lessons. From the minute the baby boy is driven away from the hospital to the day he lies in the casket, there are pressure that he must face because of his physicality and genetic make up. The man is expected to handle these pressure with dignity and pride, because he is a "man'. All of these pressures make for one tremendous task that I call the " Mars" dilemma.
How do you begin to tackle this sociological phenomenon? Do we start from the current state of men in our community? Should we talk about the factors or forces that pressure men to be "masculine". Despite the angle I will come from, I will seek to address a host of issues associate with masculinity today! I will try to pave a clear path for a rocky argument. I will simply speak on the "Mars" Dilemma ( continual conflicts that arise from male identity).
Masculinity in of itself is a easy concept to understand, it's simply manly characteristics. The difficult part of this concept are the factors that are associated with it. One factor I want to talk about are the pressures to be "manly" that is place on males in our society. When a baby boy is first born we start the " masculinity" identity process by simply identifying particular clothing that a boy should wear. We adorn the boy in colors like blue,red, green and other dark shades. From these colors people will identify the baby as a boy even if by physicality they look like a girl. If we see a baby wearing yellow we automatically associate it with being a girl.
Another pressure that is place on males takes place when they are around the age of five. We tell boys that they must "man up". They are not allowed to show emotions ( cry) or anything traditionally associated with famine behavior. They must be tuff ! We also tell them that boys are not supposed to play with dolls but rather action figures. If they do play with dolls they are deemed a " sissy". Action Figures are more appropriate because they involved physical action and aggressive combat.
Once that boy matures in age, the societal pressures to be a man become greater. During the high school years he often has to take on the dominant male role in his house hold . The young man must carry out the maintenance of the home internally and externally. From tediously cleaning up the kitchen and taking out the garbage to cutting the grass and painting the porch the young man is responsible. One interesting thing that comes from this labor is the comment that follows if the young man does not comply. Parents say to him " you must be a man and take responsibility".
At the ripe age of eighteen the young man hears the ever provoking statement , " You must get a job, if a man dose not work he does not eat". From this statement we conclude that being a man involves working hard and providing . While I don't disagree with this sentiment I believe that there are other necessities a man needs to be effective in society. We usually do not put a strong emphasis on education. Education is seen as an option! Community members often say the stupidest comment of all times, " College is not for everyone". Suggesting that higher education is for an elite group of people with extraordinary talents. The sad reality is that one day this young man will be a father and will pass his value system on to his children. Everything he vales good or bad will be transferred unto his offspring. Creating another generation that does not view education as essential to survival.
Between the ages of twenty and fifty the man must maintain his male mystique and sustain himself and all that fall under his care. He must deal with the constant voices in his life that want him to complete task, listen, give and take advice and the list continues. After this time period he reaches the brink of "Elder hood". Elder hood is where he must become a community advisor and guardian of traditions in his sphere of influence. In this stage men often feel like they must teach and instruct the youth on life lessons. From the minute the baby boy is driven away from the hospital to the day he lies in the casket, there are pressure that he must face because of his physicality and genetic make up. The man is expected to handle these pressure with dignity and pride, because he is a "man'. All of these pressures make for one tremendous task that I call the " Mars" dilemma.
-Marcellus Taylor
I agree with gender roles, though some may call them confinement. To allow my son to deviate from the traditional role of man would equal allowing my son to deviate from his blackness. Both elements are crucial to his historical narrative, and both will be a core component of how he identifies himself. I am also for self- determination, but to what extent? Every culture has its confines to gender, because there are differences that we possess physically. So of course we would demand that there be different philosophical, traditional, and cultural roles because our physicality also defines our being.
ReplyDelete-Derrick Reed
This is very interesting and I do agree to a large extent on your perspective of masculinity. However there is something you stated I would like a bit clarification on. You stated community members say "college is not for everyone" and you believe this to be stupid. Are you implying that college is for everyone and we all must go to college to attain higher education?
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