Masculinity across Cultures - Essay Example

Masculinity across Cultures Masculinity refers to the degree to which individuals consider themselves as masculine given what it means to be a man in a society (Stets & Burke 1). The essay analyzes masculinity between Italian and German men in comparison to their American counterparts. Because of cultural differences, masculinity in the three societies differs in many ways. One of the similarities between American and Italian masculinity norms is the dominance over women. In both cultures, the male regard themselves dominant over women (Iwamoto et al.). For instance, in the US, controlling women is one of the measures of manhood. Indeed, it amounts to what it takes to be a man. A man’s failure to dominate women is considered a failure of manhood. Similarly, in Italy, men regard themselves superior than women. Even in a situation of predatory sexuality, men are considered the aggressors because of their perceived dominance over women (Perrote 14). Secondly, masculinity in the American society is similar to that of Italian society because they are both proven in public. In Italy, the public space is an ideal ground for showcasing masculinity. For example, after work, Italian men gather in public places to discuss politics and other societal issues. In such places, men show their masculinity by presenting very good images of themselves to the public. Men deliberately go to such places and take active roles because they want to be seen as good in the public arena (Perrote 14-15). Similarly, American men display they masculinity by asserting their influence over certain situations, particularly in public settings. For example, most college men who drink do so because they want to be seen as able to drink a lot without getting drunk. The Italian and American displays of masculinity are comparable in terms of attitudes towards sexual orientation. In both societies, the male always have a tendency to publicly display their sexual orientation as heterosexual; no one wants to be seen as homosexual because of stigma and other consequences associated with homosexuality. For instance, in Italy, homosexuals can be subjected to physical or verbal abuse (Perrote 15). Apart from that, being homosexual affects an individual’s reputation as a man. Although they are under the protection of the law, homosexuals in America can also experience stigma and verbal abuse. Masculinity in Italy differs from that of America in terms of attitudes towards work. To an Italian man, a good job is the one that pays considerable salary and provides an individual the necessary freedom in life (Perrote 14-15). Thus, any man in Italy considers himself successful if he secures a good job according to such Italian standards. Essentially, men derive pleasure from their jobs. However, the situation differs in America. American men typically consider work as their main priority in life. While the Italians measure success in terms of getting good jobs, Americans consider themselves successful from their achievements at the workplace. Therefore, success to an American man is measured in terms of personal achievements and subsequent promotions in the workplace. Masculinity among Italian men also differs from that of their American counterparts in terms of the positions that men seek to achieve in the society. American men essentially strive to become important people in the society while Italian men seek to be seen as good. Thus, in both cultures, the difference in masculinity lies in the way men portray their public images. In America, men display their masculinity using the positions they hold such as managerial positions, political posts, or any other position that is of great importance to the society. Masculinity among the American men differs from that of Italians in terms of engaging in risk-taking behaviors (Iwamoto et al.). American men are more likely to engage in activities that involve taking considerable risks compared to their Italian counterparts. For instance, Americans can engage in excessive drinking and intoxication as a way of measuring their tolerance to alcohol. In the process, they disregard the dangers associated with excessive drinking such as unwanted deaths, accidents, risky sexual behaviors, and violence. On the other hand, such behavior is not common among Italian men. Although they are risk takers, Italian men do not reach the American extreme levels. One of the similarities between masculinity in the US and German societies is the aspect of work. In both cultures, men regard work as the main priority in life (The Hofstede Centre). In the US and Germany, a man’s success is measured in terms of their accomplishments at the workplace. Men generally enhance their self-esteem from the magnitude or complexity of tasks they have accomplished. For the case of American men, if they get promotions due to their accomplishments at the workplace, they subsequently move to different neighborhoods, often of higher status. However, those who fail to accomplish enormous tasks are considered failures. Therefore, in the two societies, high performance in the workplace is considered success. Second, the US and German masculinity conceptions are similar in terms of the way men measure their status in the society. Those who consider themselves of higher status tend to portray it using valuable possessions. For example, most of them drive valuable cars, wear expensive watches, or even live in luxurious neighborhoods (The Hofstede Centre). On the other hand, those who consider themselves less successful tend to possess few or no luxurious items. Third, the German and U.S. conceptions of masculinity are similar in terms of controlling women (Iwamoto et al.). In both countries, men consider themselves dominant over women. Thus, it is hard to find men who do jobs that are traditionally considered women’s work. Although women participate actively in the workforce, their proportion in high positions is significantly low in comparison to their male counterparts in both countries. Fourth, masculinity in the US is similar to that of Germany in terms of men’s sexual prowess. In the two countries, men have a tendency of becoming playboys, an essential trait for dominating women (Iwamoto et al.). Since sexual prowess is associated with male dominance, men who conform to the norm have a tendency of regarding women as directly under the control of men. One of the major differences between masculinity in Germany and USA is the lust for violence. While masculinity in Germany is shaped by the longing for domesticity, masculinity in the US is shaped by the lust for violence. American men are generally inclined towards physical aggression compared to the German men. Passivity has typically dominated German conception of masculinity since the end of the Second World War (Scheub). Conversely, violence has dominated the American perception of masculinity from the same period. American men typically use aggression to assert their masculinity. Masculinity in the US also differs from that of Germany in terms of the way men control their emotions. Generally, American men tend to emphasize self control particularly in their emotions (Iwamoto et al.). Men are not supposed to overreact to certain situations; being in control of personal emotions is an essential trait of manhood in America. Although the German society emphasizes self control, German men rarely reach the levels of American men. Therefore, the American masculinity differs from that of Germany because of the emphasis placed on self control. Masculinity in Germany differs from that of America in terms of the way facts are obtained. Although both cultures emphasize knowledge as a masculinity norm, they differ in the way facts are established. For instance, the German men take considerable time to ascertain facts because they are cautious of making mistakes. German men typically do not like making mistakes; they prefer taking their time to establish the facts instead of rushing to conclusions. On the other hand, American men do not have the patience of waiting for long periods to ascertain facts. Once they have established a concept, American men tend to make quick conclusions because they do not like taking long time to ascertain facts (Lamson 1). In summary, masculinity in the three countries is similar in terms of men’s dominance over women. Men consider themselves more superior than women. Masculinity also differs in terms of attitudes towards work. Men in Germany and America tend to regard work as their main priority in life while their Italian counterparts consider it a way of life. In all the three societies, sexual orientation is an essential trait of masculinity. Heterosexual men are considered masculine. Homosexuals are stigmatized and abused verbally in all the three countries. In Italy, men seek to be seen as good. On the other hand, men in Germany and America strive to become good people in the society. Works Cited Iwamoto, K. Derek, Cheng, Alice, Lee, S. Christina, Takamatsu, Stephanie, and Gordon, Derrick. ““Man-ing” up and Getting Drunk: The Role of Masculine Norms, Alcohol Intoxication and Alcohol-Related Problems among College Men.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. 1 May 2011. Web. 11 December 2014. . Lamson, Melissa. “Cultural Differences between Germans and Americans.” N.p., 2005. Web. 11 December 2014. . Perrote, T. Gino. “The Public Spectacle of Italian Masculinity: Nonverbal Display of Gender Identity.” N.p., 2008. Web. 11 December 2014. . Scheub, Ute. “Militarized Masculinity in Germany.” Gunda Werner Institute. 2012. Web. 11 December 2014. . Stets, E. Jan and Burke, J. Peter. “Femininity/Masculinity.” Encyclopedia of Sociology. n.d. Web. 11 December 2014. . “What about the USA?” The Hofstede Centre. n.d. Web. 11 December 2014. . Read More