1. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities Introduction to Women’s Studies Robert Wonser

2. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities2 What do We think about ourselves? Ask Google

3. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities3 Masculinity as Opposite of Femininity

4. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities4 Masculinity, some notes Refer back to the lists we put on the board Masculinity is defined by what it is not, namely femininity. Masculinity is primarily a homosocial activity.  Girl watching  Gender policing

5. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities5 Masculinity in Context We come to know what it means to be a man by setting our definitions in opposition to a set of ‘others’—racial minorities, sexual minorities, and above all women. This is how masculinities are stratified.

6. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities6 Masculinity changes through time Firmly rooted in social context:  Genteel patriarch – derived identity from land ownership (supervising his estate, he was refined, elegant and given to casual sensuousness)  Heroic artisan – embodied the physical strength and republican virtue that Jefferson observed in the farmer, independent urban craftsman or shopkeeper  Marketplace masculinity – normative definition of masculinity. Involves aggression, competition, anxiety in the public sphere, marketplace

7. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities7 How do you Insult a Man?

8. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities8 Homophobia; men are afraid of other men We come to know what it means to be a man by setting our definitions in opposition to a set of ‘others’—racial minorities, sexual minorities, and above all women Hegemonic masculinity is the image of masculinity of those men in power, which has become the standard for evaluations for young men to become ‘real men’.

9. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities9 Manhood: “No Sissy Stuff!”  Never do anything remotely feminine; ever. “Be a Big Wheel.”  Masculinity is measured by power, success, wealth and status “Be a Sturdy Oak.”  Calm and reliable in crisis. Keep emotions in check; always. “Give ‘em Hell.”  Exude an aura of manly daring and aggression. Go for it. Take risks.

10. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities10 Sexuality Which explains the performative aspects of Masculinity. Ultimately, we perform for other men. Heteronormativity And heterosexism Male gender policing often takes the form of violence and sexuality questioning Hegemonic masculinity To always be ‘in control’ Violence (use of, threat of and condoning of)

11. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities11 The Betrayal of the American Man For some men it is hard to recognize themselves as dominators when they feel dominated According to Faludi, “women were able to take action, paradoxically, by understanding how they were acted upon. Men feel the contours of a box, too, but they are told that the box is of their own manufacture, designed to their specifications.” WWII veterans, masculinity revolved around providing rather than dominating

12. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities12 Post WWII Affluence quickly Gave way to Deindustrialization Old masculinity is unavailable (was predicated on providing). Men are told to be masculine is to consume and buy the right products. And to look like this  Ultimately, leads to failure

13. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities13 Man Up!

14. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities14 Men have no clearly defined enemy who is oppressing them. Who is it? Men have invented antagonists to make their problems visible—scheming feminists, affirmative-action proponents, illegal aliens—have come to seem increasingly unconvincing as explanations for their situation.

15. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities15 Masculinity in Crisis Where do men fit in in a culture where we’ve focused on what it is to be feminine but haven’t updated our definitions of masculinity to mesh with our contemporary culture and economic reality.

16. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities16 Our expectations for women have changed, what about what we expect for men?

17. Lesson 10: Men and Masculinities17 Angry White Men Increasingly men have been turning to new (some, not all or entirely) methods to demonstrate masculinity. Can you think of any?