Race and Masculinity Between the White Men and Black Men - Essay Example

Black Masculinity INTRODUCTION This paper intends to explain the connection of race and masculinity between the white men and black men from the perspective of African-American men in the US. The discussion henceforth explains about the differences of cultural understanding and representation among the white men and black men. This paper herewith focuses on people of African-American in the US and their cultural positioning currently. This paper also deals with cultural criticism and solution of the problems they face today. It has often been argued that the problems faced by black men in the US are at many instances reported to forcefully represent themselves in the darker end of North America. As asserted by Hook (4), “Despite the overwhelming support of patriarchal masculinity by black men, there was even in slavery those rare black males who repudiated the norms set by white oppressors”. It is worth mentioning in this context that the attitudes of American culture towards Black were not quite positive at the beginning under the influence of patriarchy. This further increased the degree of social segregation to Black men even though the scenario also had its positive when concerning the aspect of masculinity (Hooks 1-10). THESIS STATEMENT This thesis intends to explain about the differences persistent amid the cultural understanding and representation among the white men for black men on the basis of masculinity. This thesis also deals with narrating the experience of African-American boys and men regarding the male identity, which are different between the black man and white man even at similar social circumstances. It also explains about the specific cost and burden, which had to be borne by the African-American men and boys in contemporary society. WAYS IN WHICH CULTURAL UNDERSTANDINGS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF BLACK MEN AND MASCULINITIES FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFER FROM WHITE (OR HEGEMONIC) CONCEPTIONS OF MEN AND MASCULINITIES Hegemonic masculinity is a popular concept, which explains the power of men to maintain its social role as believed to be superior over women and other gender individualities. As per Hook (70), “Through the dominant culture’s fascination with the black male as a super sexual stud, they are able to mask their sense of powerlessness, their psychological sexual impotency, as well as their obsessive compulsive dysfunctional sexual habits”. It is also considered as sociology concept, derived from the theory of cultural hegemony. Various evidences obtained in this regard revealed that the cultural understandings and representation of black men and masculinity is different from the white men and masculinities. At the onset, the term ‘black men’ is used to denote those figures or group of figures who belong from Africa and have a darker skin complexion as compared to the Americans. Correspondingly, the term ‘white men’ are used to refer to those bodies or group of bodies who are from America. As apparent, Black men and White men are native to different countries. It is in this context that the people of these two countries are mostly affected by color racism, which can be argued to indicate racial discrimination but do not behave synonymously. Based on color racism, Black men were thus not quite affected due to racial discrimination as similar to other races in America and women, while on the other hand were appraised for superior masculinity and patriarchy structure. It was the trend of hegemonic masculinities that affected the representation of Black men through which, they were appraised for their patriarchy role over women and other gender individualities. It is in this context that the differences between cultural understandings as well as the representation of the black men and white man are depend on the gender role, gender characteristics, masculinities and color racism among others (Johnson & Repta 17-37). The idea of masculinity and role of gender generally sociologically and psychologically described as cultural understandings. When applying the same terminologies to the context of African-American men in America and their experiences, the gender role of Black men were designed by the media, along with the learning as well as social system persisting within the society that builds the structure of the gender. Due to these differences in the roles, responsibilities and power of the men, the cultural understanding also differed from Black men to White men (Watt 12-47). EXPERIENCE OF MALE IDENTITY AND MASCULINE CONFORMITY IN WAYS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF WHITE BOYS AND MEN AND BLACK MEN AND BOYS Masculinity refers to the set of qualities, roles and behaviors, which are generally associated with the boys and men, augmenting with the growth age. As argued by Hook (23-25), the literal meaning of masculinities clearly indicate that the qualities and behaviors of black boys and men are basically different from the white boys and men. Negative categories regarding the nature of black masculinities are determined with identification or characteristics of black male. It is in this context that Hook (30-45) argued that Black male were perceived by White men as strongly patriarchic, who were incapable to control their animal nature and were therefore seen as a threat to the US society. Accordingly, with such a perception amid black men, the community steadily started being segregated owing to masculinities. Black boys and men were facing many threats due to their crisis of masculinities in the then period, that is to say approximately 20 years ago. In addition, the role of media was also not compensatory that portrayed most of the black men leaders as ineffectual hypocrites if they were simply looking out for one opportunity. Most of the black male who had interests in the American film industry focused their attention on the errors of the film. It was in this context that the Aid Society focuses on the education and protects black women. It was a perception amid the Americans that by using the power of black men, without any force they could protect the black women (Hooks 21-38). The experience of educational background of white boys was also different from black boys. The behavior of the black men and white men was also different based on their behaving with other gender and the women as well as boys. However, it was not necessary for black men that they shall care about the earnings of their women considering the perceived notion that Black men can controlled their families better as compared to the White men (Cooper 672-742). WAYS IN WHICH THE EXPERIENCE OF SEXUALITY CENTRAL TO THESE DIFFERENCES Differences of the sexuality central between the boys and men among the black men and white men have been much apparent in American social history. It is believed in the American society that sexuality central of men are powerful than the boys being more matured and stronger in masculinity. Although the intention inherent behind these perceptions indicated a negative image of Black men, the relationship of black men and white women were gradually becoming common in the traditional American society, which were further seen as a major challenge of the white society. It was also perceived that because white women had the ability to give the children higher education and social opportunities that provoked Black men to attract and build sexual relations with the white women. It is in this context that in Black men, boys are considered physically weak than the men due to their lesser power of patriarchy. In subsequence, differences of cultural understanding and masculinities further increased differences in the sexuality central between the black men and white men (Clarke 511-529).The controlling power and authority of the black men and boys were also perceived different from the white boys and man, which can again be indicated as the result of differences of sexuality central between the white men and black men. The stereotype of black men was certainly negative when it was examined in segregation with the white men (Weber 13-32). In the words of Hook (70), “In patriarchal society much that is said about the heterosexual sexual predator is equally true for gay men since both groups are socialized to seek patriarchal sex”. COSTS OR BURDENS TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN AND BOYS BEAR IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY Today African-Americans are highly developed as well as dispersed throughout the US society. It is in this context that there are some specific cost and burdens, which have to be borne by African-American men and boys in contemporary market. To be illustrated in this context, an assembly of African-American run by leader of labor threatened to dispute the inequitable treatment. Another threat faced by African-American was the civil right movement, which also proved to be a burden to the community. Contextually, it was argued that African-American occupies an exclusive position in the account of the US and also in contemporary life. In present days, due to the huge number of immigrant arrive from Africa and Caribbean, owing to which the population of African-American had increased substantially. Another cost borne by most African-Americans can be identified in terms of their poor living conditions, as the families of African-American are larger than the white men, besides being segregated racially. It is in this context that African-Americans are facing problems related to their education lacking adequate resources in the recent American society. Due to the lower education, African-Americans also lack appropriate chances to earn more, leading to scarcity of resources in the families. Hence, African-Americans need to develop their education and income level and also reduce their families, so that they can maintain their family in an effective way. Today, African-Americans also face several health problems. Besides diabetes, this community is also facing health problems of HIV and AIDS owing to comparatively lesser education and scarce resources (Carrasco 1-13). To be mentioned in this context, African-Americans are facing greater problems in North America in terms of poverty, schools and greater unemployment among others (Woolf & Pfleger 646-656). CONCLUSION From the above discussion, it can be stated that Black men are different form white men based on their cultural understanding and masculinities. Hegemonic masculinity has contextually emerged as a popular concept, which explains the power of men to maintain their patriarchy social role over women and other gender individualities and comes from the theory of cultural hegemony. Conclusively, it can also observe that black men belong to Africa and white men are belongs to America, having different cultural backgrounds and thereby differing perceptions. The discussion conducted above also revealed that in the current phenomenon, African-Americans face many burdens as well as problems being racially segregated in the American society and therefore, lacking adequate amenity resources. African-American Black men are also observed as facing greater problems in terms of poverty, lack of education and greater risks to unemployment among others. Works Cited Cooper, Frank. Rudy. “Who’s the Man: Masculinities Studies, Terry Stops, and Police Training”. Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, (2008): 672-742. Print. Carrasco, MaJose. “African American Outreach Resource Manual Prepared”. NAMI Multicultural Action Center, (2004): 1-132. Print. Clarke, Simon. “Culture and Identity”. SAGE, (2000): 511-529. Print. Hooks, Bell. We Real Cool. New York: Gloria Watkins (2004). Print. Johnson, Joy. L. & Repta, Robin. “Sex and Gender”. Beyond the Binaries, (n.d.): 17-37. Print. Watt, Jocubus Stephan van der. “Images of men and masculinities within cultural context: A pastoral assessment”. University of Stellenbosch, (2007): 1-472. Print. Woolf, Anthony. L. & Pfleger, Anthony. “Burden of Major Musculoskeletal Conditions”. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, (2003): 646-656. Weber, Lyn. “A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality”. University of South Carolina, (1998):13-32. Print. Read More