Essay about Masculinity: Gender and Violence

Words: 2165
Pages: 9
Open Document
Being a male in today’s society is not about living and enjoyment, it has become more of a task. Social pressures and media have made it difficult for males to live a life in which they are not being pressured to act or perform a certain way. In order to reassure themselves of their masculinity, violence has become the main method in assuring themselves and those around them that they are powerful. Not only is this violence being perpetrated against others, but self-inflicted violence also exists. The violence being used is not only physical but it is emotional abuse as well. Masculinity has forced many males to perform in ways that are detrimental to their own health as well as their loved ones. Furthermore, it has also put males in the …show more content…
In order to overcome these fears, many males feel the excessive need to hide their emotions and connections to other human beings. If a man dares to show emotion, he is mocked and teased. To avoid the teasing, emotions and feelings are kept bottled up. As a result of hiding these feelings, males are subjected to even more emotional pain and stress. The emotional pain created by obsessive masculinity is stifled by reinforcing masculinity itself (Kaufman, 12). This clearly shows that the ideology of masculinity causes emotional suffering and misery. Masculinity’s definition teaches males that showing emotions is a sign of weakness. When asked by interviewers, many young males replied that being a man is about being intimidating, powerful, and physical and that not having these characteristics brand you as a homosexual (Tough Guise). Additionally, masculinity requires a suppression of a whole range of human needs, aims, feelings, and forms of expression (Kaufman, 13).
Moreover, it can be seen in social settings how males approach one another and attempt to show their feelings in a less obvious form. Kaufman notes that expressions of affection and of the need for other boys had to be balanced by an active assault (19). This could be a simple punch on the shoulder when greeting one another or a heavy pat on the back when trying to show your feelings towards another male. It is evident that showing emotions and
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Masculinity: Gender and Violence

Gender differences in offending Essays

Assess some of the reasons why males have a higher level of offending than females (21 marks). As stated by Heidensohn, gender differences are perhaps ‘the most significant feature of recorded crime’. Generally, men tend to have higher offending rates than those of females – four out of five convicted offenders in England and Wales are male. Whilst there are gender differences in rate of offending, there are also differences in the types of crimes committed by men and women. A higher proportion…

Words 847 - Pages 4

How Is Masculinity A Social Construct

Assignment #3 3-3-15 Part A Masculinity is a social construct that defines what makes a “real man’ and how men ought to act. The concept of masculinity is not one that is naturally imposed on men, but rather it is manufactured through society. Current standards for masculinity were formed because “hegemonic masculinity embodies a ‘currently accepted’ strategy” (Connell, Masculinities 77). Hegemonic masculinity in today’s society is associated with domination, aggression, violence, athletic ability, and…

Words 937 - Pages 4

Masculinity And Violence In Superheroes

superheroes dramatize and justify violence is one of the most compelling factors that draw people to these superhero characters. Moreover, the heroes are not ordinary spectacles of masculinity and power. Superheroes embody the ideals that people have always aspired to. For young men, ‘true’ or ‘real’ masculinity is represented by better than average looks, a muscular and imposing physique as well as a brave, heroic personality. The muscular body is a strong symbol of masculinity: nothing else so clearly marks…

Words 771 - Pages 4

Hegemonic Masculinity

(“Colorado State”) Although strict gender roles for men have existed forever, people are starting to take action by teaching young men that they do not have to act manly according to today’s societal standards, and must not live under the assumption that all of their actions should be one of a “man”.…

Words 1002 - Pages 5

Gender Identity In Avery's The Adonis Complex

Characters such as Avery, (a transgendered youth) adds a face to the concept of gender identity. He is a young man who was assigned the gender “female” at birth. As he grew up he disagreed with the body he was born into and made the choice to transition early. He is a perfect example of gender identity, and how it relates to personal biographies. Avery decided to take the script of being labeled “female” and resist it. He then actively modified his script to reflect his choice to live as a man. In…

Words 1023 - Pages 5

Don T Cry Like A Girl

'Don't cry like a girl' - merely a few phrases picked from a bottomless pit of ego-destroying, self-abnegating commands repetitively drilled into the heads of the males of our society; commands that feminise emotional expression and masculinise violence and aggression, resulting in males diminishing empathy, advocating dominance and linking respect with fear. Throughout early childhood years, the behaviour of young boys proves them to be both as naturally emotionally expressive and responsive…

Words 1315 - Pages 6

Summary Of The Article Mass Killings

The Article Mass Killings in the US: Masculinity, Masculinity, Masculinity by Soraya Chemaly October 5th, 2015. Chemaly (2015) showed great insight into why men may be committing such horrific acts of violence, with gender, sex, media, hegemonic masculinity and mental health as the key reasons as to why men continue to express their lack of control and turn to violent killing to assert their dominance. This article is about how men are committing mass murders such as school shootings, targeting…

Words 1188 - Pages 5

Black Masculinity: A Manipulative Norm

Define Your Existence Black masculinity is a manipulative norm that steals our bodies and lives by stripping away our right to define our own existence. This norm has created a fear of being different among men and restricts us. It has become socially unacceptable to challenge the ideas of what it means to be masculine and black. The social structure of black masculinity represents itself throughout music, sexuality, and relationships. The continuous legacy of this norm is continuing to put…

Words 935 - Pages 4

The Man Box Poem Analysis

5. If you were to ask a WGS scholar what the definition of masculinity is, they might describe it simply as “[t]he set of characteristics or attributes traditionally ascribed to maleness” (Launius and Hassel, 196). Yet, what does this mean? If I asked you to picture someone “masculine,” what would they look like? If your ideas about masculinity have been rigidly shaped by the traditional views of society, you might picture someone who is aggressive, logical, physically strong, emotionally unexpressive…

Words 475 - Pages 2

Knight In Armour Analysis

The Hallenberg article defined the truth behind the social norm of masculinity. Many people wonder the reason why masculinity is neccessary. In Sweden, religion was not only drastic change however there became an inforcement control of the peasants and women, of course. In th article, Hallenberg made a comment pertaining to the cliche statement knight in armour, was being questioned and challenged by the Connell's hegemonic masculinity. Knights were placed on the highest pedistal in the eyes of the…

Words 486 - Pages 2