Peggy McIntosh wrote extensively about her personal relationship to the sociological concept of privilege and correlated her findings with her background in Women’s Studies. Most men were willing to acknowledge that women suffer under patriarchal structures, but were unwilling to acknowledge how women’s oppression put them at an advantage in society (McIntosh 1988). By theorizing gender as a system that is used to maintain order within society, we can observe the hierarchical differences within race and class and observe the disparities they present among men across social class. By denying their privilege, White men maintain their power and continue dominate subordinate groups. Gender as a system can be likened to a ladder. On this ladder,
…show more content…
Because hegemonic masculinity supports upper/middle class Eurocentric ideals, Black working class men are seen as incompetent members of society. Negative perceptions of their education, strength, and self-discipline is used to justify their oppression (White and Peretz, pg. 321). Even when middle-class Black men rise above the perceived low class stereotype, they still represented a feminized version of Black machismo (White and Peretz, pg. 322). Black men are faced with a double edge sword; they could play their role in machismo by being aggressive, risking their safety as they are interpreted as violent savages or they could play a less threatening role and risk their masculinity through feminized ways of displaying their emotion. In both situations, the Black man fails to live up the Eurocentric ideals of masculinity and is rendered a failure in …show more content…
When learning about civil rights movements, Black men are sure to hear narratives about Black men within that time period opposed to Black women; are more likely to be taken seriously when speaking; they are also more likely to assume more leadership positions (Woods, 2008). Black men who wish to dismantle the cisgender, heterosexual patriarchal structures within our society have banded together with Pro-feminist movements. Through their involvement, they discuss issues that are typically seen as taboo within traditionally masculine circles. By focusing on how hegemonic masculinity hinders equality for women and hinders male development within these spheres, these men attempt to dismantle the oppressive practices of masculine superiority within Western
Because hegemonic masculinity supports upper/middle class Eurocentric ideals, Black working class men are seen as incompetent members of society. Negative perceptions of their education, strength, and self-discipline is used to justify their oppression (White and Peretz, pg. 321). Even when middle-class Black men rise above the perceived low class stereotype, they still represented a feminized version of Black machismo (White and Peretz, pg. 322). Black men are faced with a double edge sword; they could play their role in machismo by being aggressive, risking their safety as they are interpreted as violent savages or they could play a less threatening role and risk their masculinity through feminized ways of displaying their emotion. In both situations, the Black man fails to live up the Eurocentric ideals of masculinity and is rendered a failure in …show more content…
When learning about civil rights movements, Black men are sure to hear narratives about Black men within that time period opposed to Black women; are more likely to be taken seriously when speaking; they are also more likely to assume more leadership positions (Woods, 2008). Black men who wish to dismantle the cisgender, heterosexual patriarchal structures within our society have banded together with Pro-feminist movements. Through their involvement, they discuss issues that are typically seen as taboo within traditionally masculine circles. By focusing on how hegemonic masculinity hinders equality for women and hinders male development within these spheres, these men attempt to dismantle the oppressive practices of masculine superiority within Western