The men and women of America constantly reference and utilize sexist stereotypes of modern day society. We cannot completely blame our current day society for this abundance of sexism. Many of these ridiculous notions are passed down generationally or simply learned from watching our parents or elders in the community. Children began to pick up on these gender identities set up by society at a young age. Feminine and masculine attributes are generally viewed as opposites. The majority of males during their adolescence are taught that you must be strong, brave, aggressive, and territorial in order to become a man. Whereas, females are known to be petite, gentle, kind, and sensitive. These gender identities are not only reviewed simply in the sense of someone’s cultural view, but also through an individual’s speech, body motion, and personal ideals. It is easy to see the connection between society and how each gender is viewed.
…show more content…
Michael Kimmel’s “Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code”, Aaron Devor’s “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social of Gender” and Dodge’s controversial Super Bowl advertisement synthesize each other through society’s construction of gender identity involving stereotypes, how men and women are viewed, and the relationship between the genders. A commonly asked and debated question, involving gender, is what the actual meaning of the “guy code” is. …show more content…
If you somehow stumble across Michael Kimmel he’ll most likely give you an in depth and precise breakdown of the marveled “guy code”. In his essay, Kimmel explains that the guy code is a collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together compose what it generically means to be a “man”(Kimmel 542). Throughout his essay he discusses and dissects each aspect of becoming a man and the specific rules one must follow of the guy code. The text begins with a preposterous list of ten rules that are what Kimmel calls a “Real Guy’s Top Ten List” that broadly expand on how a man must act or what one must do in order to achieve society’s impeded manhood. The list refers to various aphorisms such as, “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Take it like a Man”, and “Nice Guys Finish Last” along with many others (Kimmel 541). The central focus point and message of these so-called “rules of manhood” is that a man cannot submit to weakness and must never show sensitivity or emotion. In 1976, the social psychologist, Robert Brammon comprised a list of the four basic rules for masculinity: “No Sissy Stuff!”, “Be a Big Wheel”, Be a Sturdy Oak”, and “Give em Hell” (Kimmel 545). Brammon is basically saying to be a man you cannot be gay or effeminate, must have wealth and power, be able to be in control during a crisis, and finally to live life on the edge. The most shocking aspect of this set is that it is the year 2017 and society’s idea of manhood has almost completely remained the same. A plethora of young men is constantly swept into these fallacies of what it takes to be a man and taken away from what they truly care about or how they are feeling. Kimmel’s “Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code” and Devor’s “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” both agree that society is solely to blame for the obscured view of gender roles (Kimmel 551, Devor 474). For most, learning gender identity starts in the household and later expands to various community role models such as teachers and coaches. Kimmel reviews a series of interviews conducted at various college campuses around the country and received an agnate group of responses. It is appalling how little society’s view of gender has changed in the past century and both articles provide sufficient evidence backing this notion of gender identity. Many question at what age does one really begin to understand gender roles and identity. The author, Aaron Devor, of “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” explains that children begin to recognize their gender identity anywhere from eight months to two years old and comprehend what gender group they are a part of (Devor 471). “We acquire gender roles so early in life and so thoroughly that it’s hard to see them as the result of lessons taught and learned. Maleness and femaleness seem ‘natural,’ not the product of socialization” (Devor 474). Devor, along with Kimmel, dives into the mess that is
Michael Kimmel’s “Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code”, Aaron Devor’s “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social of Gender” and Dodge’s controversial Super Bowl advertisement synthesize each other through society’s construction of gender identity involving stereotypes, how men and women are viewed, and the relationship between the genders. A commonly asked and debated question, involving gender, is what the actual meaning of the “guy code” is. …show more content…
If you somehow stumble across Michael Kimmel he’ll most likely give you an in depth and precise breakdown of the marveled “guy code”. In his essay, Kimmel explains that the guy code is a collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together compose what it generically means to be a “man”(Kimmel 542). Throughout his essay he discusses and dissects each aspect of becoming a man and the specific rules one must follow of the guy code. The text begins with a preposterous list of ten rules that are what Kimmel calls a “Real Guy’s Top Ten List” that broadly expand on how a man must act or what one must do in order to achieve society’s impeded manhood. The list refers to various aphorisms such as, “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Take it like a Man”, and “Nice Guys Finish Last” along with many others (Kimmel 541). The central focus point and message of these so-called “rules of manhood” is that a man cannot submit to weakness and must never show sensitivity or emotion. In 1976, the social psychologist, Robert Brammon comprised a list of the four basic rules for masculinity: “No Sissy Stuff!”, “Be a Big Wheel”, Be a Sturdy Oak”, and “Give em Hell” (Kimmel 545). Brammon is basically saying to be a man you cannot be gay or effeminate, must have wealth and power, be able to be in control during a crisis, and finally to live life on the edge. The most shocking aspect of this set is that it is the year 2017 and society’s idea of manhood has almost completely remained the same. A plethora of young men is constantly swept into these fallacies of what it takes to be a man and taken away from what they truly care about or how they are feeling. Kimmel’s “Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code” and Devor’s “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” both agree that society is solely to blame for the obscured view of gender roles (Kimmel 551, Devor 474). For most, learning gender identity starts in the household and later expands to various community role models such as teachers and coaches. Kimmel reviews a series of interviews conducted at various college campuses around the country and received an agnate group of responses. It is appalling how little society’s view of gender has changed in the past century and both articles provide sufficient evidence backing this notion of gender identity. Many question at what age does one really begin to understand gender roles and identity. The author, Aaron Devor, of “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” explains that children begin to recognize their gender identity anywhere from eight months to two years old and comprehend what gender group they are a part of (Devor 471). “We acquire gender roles so early in life and so thoroughly that it’s hard to see them as the result of lessons taught and learned. Maleness and femaleness seem ‘natural,’ not the product of socialization” (Devor 474). Devor, along with Kimmel, dives into the mess that is