Role and Gender: Masculinity

Paper Summary:

Masculinity is a topic that has been debated in our society extensively, through research as well as in informal settings. Many wonder what it means to be masculine, and if we can really assign a definition to such a subjective term. After all, shouldn't one's own perception be the determinant of what constitutes masculinity? This self-construction would be the ideal in our society, but unfortunately, it represents a false belief. Masculinity has certain characteristics assigned to it by our culture. This paper explores the many facets of masculinity and demonstrates how certain beliefs pertaining to it are perpetuated in our society. It also uncovers many of the contradictions between society's assigned definition of masculinity and the expectation that males will somehow learn how to act contrary to that assigned and learned meaning.

Paper Outline:
Introduction
Definition of Masculinity
Genetics vs. Socialization
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"Is this all that society (and women) want in men? Do they want simple-minded 'hunks' of musculature that are 'tough'. It is no longer sufficient for men to just be 'tough' physically. They must also demonstrate competence intellectually, spiritually and emotionally. This argument is not to say that being physically fit and healthy is a negative characteristic, but rather it is only trying to point out that what society is defining as the ideal is later revoked by that same society, or at the very least discarded and seen as secondary to the truly important mental prowess, sensitivity and intelligence."

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