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Problems With Contemporary American Masculinity
By Jay | April 24, 2007
From the Media Education Foundation, Tough Guise: Violence, Media & The Crisis in Masculinity.
Some of the major problems in American society - especially those connected with violence - can be looked upon as problems with contemporary American masculinity.
One of the points Jackson Katz makes: the overwhelming majority of victims of male violence are other men. That we both dole out and receive violence to and from each other like the sun rises is one of the keystones of masculinity. As men we must work to end male violence against women and girls, men and boys.
Another point: Media representations of men of color in traditional US media depict men-of-color as violent, overwhelmingly so. That a man of color perpretated the violence upon the people of Virginia Tech isn’t suprising to me giving the overwhelming stereotype of Asian men in the media as violent.
Lastly, I’m not sure I think we’re having a crisis of masculinity so much as an acknowledgement, finally, that current constructions are, at their core, violent.
Topics: Media, Masculinity |
April 25th, 2007 at 2:30 am
Jay, Have you read Jackson Katz’s new book,
“The Macho Paradox, Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help”? Well written, reasonably priced, insightful, deep, well researched, etc. I recommend it. Check it out on jacksonkatz.com .