on making with the masculinity
Feb. 28th, 2002 01:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aruanbecause ehnes asked and i didn't have an educated answer after 8 weeks of class...
Masculinities: configurations of practice (thoughts, feelings, and actions) within gender relations, a structure that involves large-scale institutions and economic relations as well as face-to-face relationships and sexuality (Connell)
-when prompted for our own definitions, a few more interesting points were brought up: a collection of traits physical and social whether expected, implied, or inherent that determines a male's man-ness, usually in opposition to women (ay, there's the rub)
-problem: as men assuage their fears, women become convenient scapegoats
-there is no transcendent, universal view of masculinity
-people, economy, culture, class, period in history, setting, fluidity of social hierarchy all shape what masculinity is, means, and how it is constructed and represented i.e. oppositional (bullies) and conforming (best science fair project) masculinities in a school
-institutions such as engineering major fraternities, Boy Scouts, and car enthusiasts all play a big role in the definition and expression of masculinity for different men
-our bodies as arenas - physical build, contact/perception by others brings our body images and realities to the forefront; types of jobs performed are affected
-politics also plays a role - issues of distributing power, resources, determining values and norms
as far as what i find relevant about a man's masculinity? ego-coddling is not a favorite pastime. i like them to be persistent, a bit impulsive, smart, justifiably confident, and witty. oh, and the kissing's gotta be first rate. otherwise? they could dress in drag three days out of the week and be comfortable enough about themselves to kiss other boys for all i mind.
Masculinities: configurations of practice (thoughts, feelings, and actions) within gender relations, a structure that involves large-scale institutions and economic relations as well as face-to-face relationships and sexuality (Connell)
-when prompted for our own definitions, a few more interesting points were brought up: a collection of traits physical and social whether expected, implied, or inherent that determines a male's man-ness, usually in opposition to women (ay, there's the rub)
-problem: as men assuage their fears, women become convenient scapegoats
-there is no transcendent, universal view of masculinity
-people, economy, culture, class, period in history, setting, fluidity of social hierarchy all shape what masculinity is, means, and how it is constructed and represented i.e. oppositional (bullies) and conforming (best science fair project) masculinities in a school
-institutions such as engineering major fraternities, Boy Scouts, and car enthusiasts all play a big role in the definition and expression of masculinity for different men
-our bodies as arenas - physical build, contact/perception by others brings our body images and realities to the forefront; types of jobs performed are affected
-politics also plays a role - issues of distributing power, resources, determining values and norms
as far as what i find relevant about a man's masculinity? ego-coddling is not a favorite pastime. i like them to be persistent, a bit impulsive, smart, justifiably confident, and witty. oh, and the kissing's gotta be first rate. otherwise? they could dress in drag three days out of the week and be comfortable enough about themselves to kiss other boys for all i mind.
