Distinct Varieties of Masculinity - Essay Example

DISTNICT VARIETIES OF MASCULINITY Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: Abstract This essay discusses the distinct varieties of masculine, by looking into the following: introduction, explains the core issues; gender and feminist theories as discussed by scholars; the relation between men and women in gender studies; the influence of women studies (feminism) to matters related to men, masculinity, and male composition; the different factors comprising of masculinity; masculinity in relation to feminist, in terms of hoe masculine manifest on contrast to famine manifestation; argument and opinion on the distinct varieties of masculine, by concurring or differing with different scholars; the conclusion, entailing a summery outline of the main points discussed and a stand on the things discussed and how masculinity manifest. Introduction In gender studies, feminist theories concern the discrimination of women by men because of womanhood feminists opine that men suit themselves by controlling sex; women get denied personal choice and exploited on labor issues. The feminists believe that the discrimination curtails women rights and seek to see the situation changed. (Piper 2009) Masculinity refers to masculine which denote something related to a male who include men and boys. (Piper 2011) defines masculinity as an expression to serve and not to be served expressing a sacrifice for the woman, which requires giving direction and having a final say. While looking at the distinct values of masculinity arises from the comparison of feminist and masculinity where feminist seek for equality between men and women, but some things constitute for womanhood and others manhood. The essay below discusses the comparison of the two in regard to distinct variety of masculinity. Distinct varieties of masculinity To begin with thoughts and experiences of men, they help in understanding gender in terms of the masculine variables, as opposed to feminist. (Rotundo, p. 106) argues that women beauty lured men from their known pleasure and secure culture to following women. Therefore, opining that gender gets socially construed with masculine thoughts and behaviors arising from social and cultural processes. The scholar opines that the new complex culture, give rise to the conception of self made manhood. (Rotundo, p. 80 ) Explains the boy’s culture, which prepared boys, for rough and competitive world of politics and business, also the youth culture characterized by debating clubs, where they learned new skills and how to compete in socially acceptable ways. Similarly, (Rotundo, p 86) expresses the idea of masculinity by demonstrating thinking and experiences during both boys and youth culture. Both cultures have great emotional depth involving wrestling, fisticuffs’ and rehearsals for marriage by teenage boys in preparation for adult responsibilities. The thoughts of young men inclined to taming girls while driven by desires for sex and home cooked food because they regarded women to be different from men. More so, the development of culture had many think that masculinity manifested in the success of men in both business and politics. Argument and opinion Rotundo’s argument that masculinity can be traced from the thoughts and experiences of as construed in the cultural and social development has a lot of merits and some controversies. The following reasons support Rotundo’s argument: that culture develops and so the thinking and experience of a person changes as the social and cultural responsibility change; people do grow and so changes occur, so masculinity can be examined at different stages of one’s life as Rotundo considers the issue in different cultural stages; argument that a society undergoes economic and social changes (Rotundo, p. 22) requires that man change masculinity to adopt with the new roles. Therefore, this concept of distinct of masculinity is worthy agreeable with since the feminine assume its feminist like ways. Secondly, transforming masculinity can be observed by examining how sex men are in nature (kimmel, p 141). Sexual differences get experienced in the line of masculinity and femininity with the difference giving man power over women. (Kimmel, p. 133) Describes homophobia as the central cultural definition of masculinity homophobia can be found interwoven with both sexism and racism men avoid the title of homosexuals by indulging in all manner of exaggerated masculine behaviors and attitudes to ensure people do not get the wrong expression (kimmel, p. 133). (Kimmel, p. 142) argues that, sexual behavior confirms masculinity, with men not doing anything suggesting feminist, working to accumulate power wealth and success, not revealing the emotional feelings in time of stress and taking risky adventures. Argument and opinion The argument of men having power over women becomes relevant on demonstrating the things men do or do not do. The things men do in pursuit of masculinity exhibit strange behavior, like trying to keep from ejaculating too soon in the onset of sex (kimmel, p 142) to achieve this men employ other techniques such as counting, singing and multiplication in the head, Similarly, the risks they take, may result to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted disease or loss in business. More so, failure to react emotionally may suggest inhumanness. Therefore, men should work towards changing this behavior for the risk outweighs the good. Women should be allowed to make a contribution in sex matters. Thirdly, (Steinem, p.367) a radical feminist explores the issue of masculinity by asking why could happen if the menstrual flow experienced by women could be experienced by men. If men menstruated it could be seen as a sign of strength, but for a woman a weakness. The flow men could be seen as a great sacrifice for women. Therefore in either way women remain inferior. (Steinem, 368) argues that masculinity or femininity arises from thinking and perception; men use what they have to justify their superiority while an inferior group justifies the inferiority. If men had menstrual flow, they could brag about it, so becoming an event of envy and convenience women that sex became sweet during the flow. Argument and opinion Steinem argument that, masculinity manifests as a matter of perception and justification is worthy support and acceptance. The reason being, the society accepts men as superior and women as inferior and both have accepted the statuses. Therefore, men measure their masculinity by justifying what they experience and have as been good and worthy experiencing while justifying what women go through as inferior. So masculinity variety can be found in the perception of either sex. To rectify the situation and create a level playing ground men should change their thinking appreciates women while women should think positively about what they go through. Conclusion In conclusion, the distinct of masculinity cannot occur independently but in comparison with femininity, in gender studies, Masculinity occurs in men thoughts and experiences, in life, as construed in cultural and social developments similarly femininity occurs in the thoughts am experience of women. Sexual power, behavior and control, illustrates masculinity as compared to the roles of women in sexual influence, the masculinity starts in mind with men working towards not doing some things. Lastly the masculinity demonstrated in menstrual flow occurs by comparison between men and women which starts in the mind where men think whet they do remains superior thus justifying the superiority. Therefore to bring to create a level playing ground both men and women should think positively and appreciate their life experiences. Reference Entony Rotundo. (1993 Manhood: Transforming Masculinity from the Revolution to the Modern Era. New York: Basic Books, america Kimmel, Michael. (2005) Transforming a Rape Culture: Minneapolis : Milkweed Editions, p139-158, 20p. Steinem, Gloria. (2002) If Men Could Menstruate, periodic Vol. 12 Issue p41 John Piper. (2009) Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Viewed on april 30, 2012 from www.c6mw.rg/5. Read More