Definition Essay On Masculinity

Women have expectations of men, as do men themselves. Men expect others to be tough, strong, they cannot be afraid or show any sign of pain; that is their definition of masculinity. Women define masculinity as a drive for power, based on their experiences. They do not feel powerful, but afraid and vulnerable (Kimmel, 149). Based on experience, women say that men are in power as a group. As their expectations vary, men do not consider having power, what women think makes a man masculine, as masculine. Men have a “code”, known as “The Guy Code”, which holds “the collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together compose what it means to be a man” (Kimmel, 807). They uphold these attitudes, values and traits because homophobia puts their masculinity at stake. Homophobia is the fear that people might misperceive them as gay. …show more content…
Men always “had to be tough and strong to make it in this world” Mike, a college student, said his father always told him as a child (Kimmel, 807). The reinforcement of masculinity and the enforcement of those traits come mainly from the male figures in their lives; fathers, older brothers, grandfather, coaches and more. “My older brothers were always on my case. They were like, always ragging on me, calling me a pussy, if I didn’t want to play football or wrestle.” (Kimmel, 808). If a boy, or man did not show violence or toughness, they would be called an assort of names, emasculating them. “Faggot” being one of the names they would get called if they showed any trait unmanly, like weakness; “The lowest degrading thing you can say to a man when you’re battling him is to call him a faggot and try to take away his manhood.” (Kimmel,