Violence and homophobia are only two of the pertinent issues prevailing in todays society that impact upon

the ideas of men and masculinity. This semester my eyes were open to the fact that we as men are not as safe or as unaffected as we were led to believe. Men and Masculinities in the Caribbean, a course offered by the Gender Department here at the UWI has opened my eyes to these concerns that we as men are taught to ignore. Do you cry? Do you voice displeasure in a situation without using anger? If you dont then youre not a real man. So what do we do? We need to understand that violence and homophobia is real and we are impacted every day. I would be looking at issues such as surplus repression, surplus aggression, the triad of violence and homophobia. One would link testosterone levels and male violence or perhaps a particular gene that the male possesses that makes him naturally predisposed to violent behaviour, while others argue that it is in fact, the way the male is socialised to become violent. I ask myself, has society socialised crime into the minds of men? Masculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man such as strength, courage and boldness. Essentialism seeks to validate these characteristics and violence of men through their biology. Social constructivism of gender on the other hand argues that men and women are gendered to adopt and reject certain qualities that are associated with masculinity and femininity. This concept is known as gendering and is defined by Kate Young as the process by which we acquire the social characteristics of masculinity or femininity, is a highly complex set of processes which start almost at birth (Young 1988: 98). Both Alan Johnson and Michael Kaufman dismiss the basis of essentialism to explain masculinity. I can recall as a young male growing up in my neighbourhood that I was not supposed to cry. If I felt the need to cry I had to hide away from the view of my peers and even my parents. So

drastic at times it required me to numb my physical pain with a smile and a tough stance until I was behind closed doors to let my emotion out. It is socialised in the male from a very tender age that it is taboo for him as an upcoming man to show emotion. This phenomenon that requires men to bottle up emotion is explained by the concept of surplus repression. This concept as it is related to violence is defined within Michael Kaufmans Triad of Violence. Surplus repression eventually builds up, and an avenue is needed to let out the associated frustration or pressure, surplus repression is transfixed in a violent form of surplus aggression. This is explained through Kaufmans analysis that violence is the acceptable form of expression society allows men. I ask the question again, do society socialise crime into the minds of men. The triad of mens violence is an important concept when discussing men and violence; it is situated in a society or societies that are grounded in domination and control (Kaufman 19XX: P). Violence, Kaufman argues is rooted in the social orders as violence is seen in industrial labour relations, in raping of nature or conquering of nature, in political affairs and even in war between nations. Violence is also further explained as a power relation between men. Men feel a sense of entitled power and the use of violence is normal and an acceptable gendered practice that is used against women, against other men and also against themselves. This power is grounded in patriarchy, which Johnson describes as a system what fuels competition, aggression and oppression is a dynamic relationship between control and fear. (Johnson 19XX: P)

Rape in Trinidad and Tobago, statistically speaking remains a problem that exists in our society, for the last four years on average there has been over 600 cases of reported rape and sexual assault. This speaks not only of the worrying threat to womens safety in our society

but also as a crisis among men and their masculinity. Rape, falling under the category of violence against women, is drawn in reference to a power relation between the genders (Kaufman 19XX: P). Drawing form Nathan McCall a convicted serial rapist that wrote about rape and masculinity in his Men We just Dont Get It identifies that rape is more about power than sexual enjoyment. Violence against women explained by Kaufman speaks of the active/ passive split that is a necessary condition for violence to exist. The man is seen as active and the natural aggressor whereas the woman, passive, who is the natural receiver of the violence. However this is simply the social relations of gender and this is in no way an excuse for male violence against women. Violence by men against other men exist in the ritualised display of violence of teenagers and some groups of adult men, institutionalised rape in prisons, and attacks on gays or racial minorities are very direct expressions of this violence (Kaufman 19XX, 17). I would like to place emphasis on the link between violence and homophobia which has a different meaning in the context of men and masculinities. Masculinity as defined by Michael Kimmel is a homosocial enactment (Kimmel 19XX; 4). Homophobia as we know it today is the hate and scorn that is directed toward gay man men, however drawing from Kimmels Masculinity as Homophobia: Fear, Shame and Silence in the Construction of Gender Identity homophobia shown to not only stand for its conventional definition but rather it is shown it also affects the heterosexual man. In essence homophobia is defined as the fear that other men will unmask us, emasculate us reveal to us and the world that we do not measure up, that we are not real mean (Kimmel 19XX; 4). Homophobia affects the average man who is afraid of being called a faggot, sissy or the local term bullaman. There are severe repercussions and punishments distributed to the man that is seen as effeminate this concept is known as the policing of the masculine gender (Kimmel/Kaufman 19XX; P). Men also

engage in hyper masculine activities namely sport, sexual activity and even violence of means of rejecting and safeguarding against any forms of passivity which is associated with femininity. Society creates a highly unattainable ideal for men. In reality most men fail to become what is socially defined as the real man. However no man wants to lose control of his masculinity and they invest in what is known as the collective hallucination of masculinity. Masculinity is some sense is a benefit to men when it comes to male privileging for jobs, academics and basic social liberties however far too little is the negative and hurtful aspect of masculinity is seen, especially as it relates to its role in men and violence. In order to rid ourselves of these plagues of violence as it pertains to men, we must first try changing our own perceptions of masculinity that we walk with around every day. Both men and women in our social context supports the ideals of masculinity which men to be accountable for their masculinity. A space must be created in which men are allowed to interact with other men with-it the prejudices of masculinity and the fear of being seen as less of a man for being frank about his emotions. Men should be encouraged to express his thoughts and show his emotion in a non-repressive society. Men ought be granted the same liberties of emotional express as women just as much as women ought to be granted the liberty of living in a society free from male violence. My intentions of this speech was to equip each and everyone one of you with the basic background about men and masculinities in relation to violence and homophobia through the knowledge imparted to me through this course. I believe the information conveyed to you should give you the basis for a better understand about men, violence and homophobia but it must be kept in mind that there is much more to be learnt about masculinities.

Changing the world and its perceptions will be a hard tasks however we must note that we has human beings live in an ever changing social context. The definitions of masculinity must be challenged and shaped in a non-repressive society where men are free to be human.