Society’s False Definition of Masculinity
While walking down the street, what is the first thing that comes to mind when a muscular teenage boy passes by in gym shorts, a cut off t-shirt, tall Nike socks, and basketball shoes? Yet when a scrawny teenage boy with a sweater vest, Walmart jeans, glasses, and champion sneakers passes by does that same thought come to mind? The same thought occurring is very unlikely with both boys giving off opposite eras about themselves. Typically the boy with the athletic apparel is going to give out a very masculine era, and the scrawny (most likely very intelligent) boy is going to convey more of an era that implies weakness. There is something wrong with this picture. How can it be that your typical jock, …show more content…
Why is it that our young men and boys today are slowly dropping any interest in the education system or school itself? Could it be simply that women are motivated towards pursuing education and doing well more so than men are throughout high school and college? David Brooks gives references to data that has been collected on the female-male ratios of graduating college. In this, he makes several claims, one being that the most important piece of data is “Until 1985 or so, male college graduates outnumbered female college graduates. But in the mid-80s, women drew eve, and ever since they have been pulling away at a phenomenal rate.”(Mind over Muscle). The 1980s was known commonly as the second wave of feminism, where gender equality in the workplace came to be questioned. This wave of feminism was a major motivation for women pursuing careers in college, and it helped them to strive to become something great and to do well. In the article, Mind over Muscle, Brooks also makes a statement that, “Once upon a time, it was a man’s world.” And goes on to talk about how men had grasped all that they needed for power and success; however, when the information age came along that all of that changed. He then states, “In the information age, education is the gateway to success. And that means this is turning into a woman’s world, because women are better students than men.” That …show more content…
So, they follow the idea that if they possess strong athletic and gaming ability, and stay unmotivated to pursue an education and act courteous, they will not have to worry about it affecting their masculinity. In Putting Down the Gun, Rebecca Walker expresses her concern and alarmed feelings when her son comes home from school one day and tell her that “Maybe girls will like me if I play sports.” Her son then goes on to tell her that, “Boys talk about sports, like their matches and who scored what and stuff, or they talk about new versions of computer games or tricks they learned to get to higher levels.” As he started to get teary he says, “I don’t have anything to talk about.” Walker is then dismayed as to how it can be her son who is intuitive, smart, and creative beyond belief can go unnoticed simply because he has no interest in sports, and is not allowed to play video games. After realizing what is going on she says, “The truth of his existence, his many likes and dislikes, none of them having to do with winning or killing of any kind, had no social currency.” Her son was not seen as masculine, and not wanted to be around simply because he had no interest in the things society tells boys and young men makes them manly. Theroux makes references towards how the manly attitude towards sports has a negative impact on athletes and their lives by stating, “Everyone is aware of how few in number are the athletes who behave like
While walking down the street, what is the first thing that comes to mind when a muscular teenage boy passes by in gym shorts, a cut off t-shirt, tall Nike socks, and basketball shoes? Yet when a scrawny teenage boy with a sweater vest, Walmart jeans, glasses, and champion sneakers passes by does that same thought come to mind? The same thought occurring is very unlikely with both boys giving off opposite eras about themselves. Typically the boy with the athletic apparel is going to give out a very masculine era, and the scrawny (most likely very intelligent) boy is going to convey more of an era that implies weakness. There is something wrong with this picture. How can it be that your typical jock, …show more content…
Why is it that our young men and boys today are slowly dropping any interest in the education system or school itself? Could it be simply that women are motivated towards pursuing education and doing well more so than men are throughout high school and college? David Brooks gives references to data that has been collected on the female-male ratios of graduating college. In this, he makes several claims, one being that the most important piece of data is “Until 1985 or so, male college graduates outnumbered female college graduates. But in the mid-80s, women drew eve, and ever since they have been pulling away at a phenomenal rate.”(Mind over Muscle). The 1980s was known commonly as the second wave of feminism, where gender equality in the workplace came to be questioned. This wave of feminism was a major motivation for women pursuing careers in college, and it helped them to strive to become something great and to do well. In the article, Mind over Muscle, Brooks also makes a statement that, “Once upon a time, it was a man’s world.” And goes on to talk about how men had grasped all that they needed for power and success; however, when the information age came along that all of that changed. He then states, “In the information age, education is the gateway to success. And that means this is turning into a woman’s world, because women are better students than men.” That …show more content…
So, they follow the idea that if they possess strong athletic and gaming ability, and stay unmotivated to pursue an education and act courteous, they will not have to worry about it affecting their masculinity. In Putting Down the Gun, Rebecca Walker expresses her concern and alarmed feelings when her son comes home from school one day and tell her that “Maybe girls will like me if I play sports.” Her son then goes on to tell her that, “Boys talk about sports, like their matches and who scored what and stuff, or they talk about new versions of computer games or tricks they learned to get to higher levels.” As he started to get teary he says, “I don’t have anything to talk about.” Walker is then dismayed as to how it can be her son who is intuitive, smart, and creative beyond belief can go unnoticed simply because he has no interest in sports, and is not allowed to play video games. After realizing what is going on she says, “The truth of his existence, his many likes and dislikes, none of them having to do with winning or killing of any kind, had no social currency.” Her son was not seen as masculine, and not wanted to be around simply because he had no interest in the things society tells boys and young men makes them manly. Theroux makes references towards how the manly attitude towards sports has a negative impact on athletes and their lives by stating, “Everyone is aware of how few in number are the athletes who behave like