Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Mrs. Fielding
WRTC 103
September 11, 2017
The Male Gender
The definition of masculinity is possessing the qualities traditionally associated with men.
Consistently men in our society today, and in the past, have had power over women and other
nonbinary people. I personally do not agree with this view in our society. The people in this
group have certain beliefs, principles, and actions. These actions define what they and their
group stand for. I have had certain experiences where I displayed these actions and beliefs. These
culturally, and systematically, men hold power over women and nonbinary people.
Unfortunately, I am a part of this unfair privilege and have experienced the pressures of
The founding principles of being a man or having masculinity is what separates this
group from other genders. First, men are both consciously and subconsciously considered
superior to women in our society: Despite increases in equality between men and women in the
past century, most patriarchal societies, the United States included, still endorse the idea that
men are naturally superior to women in public affairs and that they deserve authority over
women in the home (Darity). Although I do not agree with this standard, it is true that being a
man gives a person more benefits in areas such as finding a job and having high ranking
positions. Second, men are supposed to have strength and power in society: Masculinity instead
encourages men to focus on achieving power through independence, aggression, and violence
(Darity). Thus, to be a man means that a male person cannot be weak or have any femininity in
their characteristics or actions. Finally, men are not supposed to express positive or saddened
emotions. In our society if a man expresses any form of these types of emotions they are
considered weak. For example, if a man was to start crying at a sad movie than he would
probably be looked down upon by other men: ...masculinity confines and isolates men
emotionally (Darity). This can be hard on most men because in order to keep their
I consider myself to be a part of mens grouping and have many characteristics that show
my masculinity. First, I internally and externally believe that I have to be strong to be a man; to
be weak is to be considered less than manly according to societal pressures. Moreover, this is
because I think it is important to have physical and mental strength especially when faced with
certain tasks. I think that it is sometimes hard for me to express emotion, so I choose not to. The
reason why is because it is not socially allowed for a man to express their emotion. This
emotional suppression plays into the facade than men must be tough. In the physical aspect men
are considered stronger than women. This can play into the factor of jobs especially ones that
require physical labor. Being a man can help your chances in getting this type of job.
I am very protective over my family and property. I think that it is important to keep
people safe and that it is my duty as a man to protect other people. An example would be when
my friends and I go out I feel the need to watch over them and make sure everyone is all right.
An experience that I had that made me feel that I was part of this group was when I went to a
concert with my friends over the summer. After the concert was over my friends Molly, Natalie,
Jack and I were walking to our car through Camden, NJ. Camden was known for having a lot of
crime, and I knew that going into the situation. The streets were very dark and I felt very
paranoid, and the car was parked in a lot about fifteen minutes away from the concert. I knew
before we left I would have to make sure that we did not walk down the wrong street or run into
trouble. I felt that I had to protect my friends and that we all got home okay. I told them that I
will make sure that we all get there all right and my friend Molly asked why I have to be so
protective and that they are able to protect themselves. I didn't really reply, but I was thinking
because that's what guys have to do. We were walking down one street that didn't have many
people on it. I suggested that we walk another way, but that would have taken us about an extra
ten minutes. We were walking down one street and I saw a group of guys sitting on the front
porch of their house. They started shouting stuff at us. I got a little uncomfortable and felt that if
something were to happen I would have to step in because I couldn't let the girls or Jack get hurt
in any way. I started to get very protective and told my friends to cross the street. Once we did
that the group started saying more stuff. They asked what we were doing and I just put my
friends on the opposite side of the group and separated them. I didn't say anything because I
didn't want to provoke anything, but I thought that something might happen. We eventually
made it to the end of the street and the group stopped shouting. I was happy that the
confrontation was over. I felt that if anything happened I would have to make sure my friends
were safe even if that meant putting myself in danger. I believe that this is a characteristic of
being a man. Throughout history men have been considered the protectors. They have been
soldiers, guard, and even the defenders of their own homes. Knowing this I believe that being a
man is to protect.
I had another experience where I felt I had to uphold what it is to be man. My friends and
I were at a party one weekend and the entire night this one guy was picking on one of my
friends. I didn't know who he was or what his problem was with my friend, but it seemed to be
bothering him. My friend and this guy eventually got into a fight and the guy started getting
physically hostel. I stepped in between my friend and the guy and I shoved him pretty hard
across the room. I stood there as my friend stood behind and looked down on the guy. I told the
guy not to talk to my friend again and he got up and walked away. I felt that I needed to step in
and that a man would do the same thing I would. Im pressured to be the protective one because I
am a man. In turn, I feel uncomfortable or stressed out when I have to assume this role of
responsibility and protection; I also gloss over my friends abilities to protect themselves, which
I believe that being man means that you must be strong and should not show emotion. I
tend to think that masculinity is something that I am and a part of. Although men are considered
the higher standard in our society I believe that this privilege is unfair, and I do not agree with it.
I do although believe that I as a man have to act as one and have masculinity. The experiences
I've had have with this have shown me that I have these certain characteristics.
Sources
"Men." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by William A. Darity, Jr.,
2nd ed., vol. 5, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 80-82. Gale Virtual Reference Library,
Brett. What Is the Core of Masculinity? The Art of Manliness, 25 May 2016,
www.artofmanliness.com/2014/04/07/what-is-the-core-of-masculinity/.