Manhood Defined

Paper Summary:

This essay explores the concept of masculinity from several different perspectives. The paper first shows how "man" is often used, its connotations, and how the term may be linguistically problematic. The author asserts that the term "man" may also imply being a part of humanity, which has had implications for the enslaved as well as victims of prejudice. In particular, the author examines the experience of black males and their experience of racism and denial of human rights. The author concludes by encouraging adults to simply behave in a mature and responsible manner regardless of gender.

From the Paper:

"It is true that sometimes, being a man is equated with just simply being human, as in the phrase 'mankind.' This definition is problematic, since it means that women are excluded from the definition of humanity, or encompassed in a definition of manhood that excludes femininity from generic personhood. "The political philosophy of republican citizenship, which Americans originally borrowed from European Enlightenment thinkers, equated the 'rights of man' with the rights of all citizens. Since men were the only voters in most nineteenth century political contests, voting rights and citizenship were directly linked to manhood. This connection between citizenship and manhood shaped the language, strategies and objectives of political and social reform" (Estes, 2005). Advocates of female equality have rightly protested this easy association of being human with being a member of the male gender, preferring the word 'humankind' to mankind, when speaking about all persons."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Estes, Steve. "Introduction." From I am a Man: Race, Manhood, and the Civil Rights Movement. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2005. [22 Feb 2007] Excerpted at http://uncpress.unc.edu/chapters/estes_i.html
• Behrend-Martinez, Edward. "Manhood and the neutered body in early modern Spain." Journal of Social History. 22 Jun 2005. [22 Feb 2007] http://www.encyclopedia.com/printable.aspx?id=1G1:133934746

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