Abstract This paper considers a rape in Glen Ridge, NJ, as described in Bernard Lefkowitz's, "Our Guys", and attempts to show how the rape occurred and why the society reacted as it did, using the construct of hegemonicmasculinity. The events are outlined, as well as the theory of the rape. The construct is applied and an alternative critique suggested that if implemented could help to avoid such crimes in the future.
Abstract This paper discusses hegemonicmasculinity which is defined as masculinity constructed in relation to the various subordinate masculinities as well as in relation to women. The paper shows how this topic is demonstrated in three sociologytexts: "Riding The Bull at Gilley"s? by Scully and Marolla, "Selling Crack" by Anderson, and "Fraternities and Rape on Campus" by Martin and Hummer. The paper shows that these articles name hegemonicmasculinity as one of the main culprits to the social problem they address.
From the Paper "Many offenders believe that they have the right, because they are men, to discipline and punish women. Rape is used to "put women in their place". Thus the men prove their "manhood". The most disturbing scenario involves the idea of an "added bonus". The men in these situations were burglarizing a residence and figured "why not" rape the homeowner, after realizing they were in control of the situation. The last type of rape was that of sexual access. When a woman was unwilling or unavailable, the rapist is able to seize what is not offered, rape of conquest. Many of these rapes involve white victims and black perpetrators.
Overall, most of the rapists suggest that they believe their victims deserved being raped or were "asking for it". Many also felt that they had not committed a crime at all. In the final analysis, it was found that dominance was the objective of most rapes. To dominate a subordinate group in order to prove his masculinity, a man is engaging in a show of hegemonic masculinity."
Abstract The paper reviews the documentary, "Tough Guise" by J. Katz on the crisis of America's notion of masculinity. The paper discusses Katz's point that television and movie audience members are not passive recipients to the text and visuals, but instead incorporate what they see and hear into their own lives and social situations in many different ways. It shows how the effects of media and television manifest themselves in a multitude of anti-social behaviors, including the rise of hegemonicmasculinity and violence in young and teenage boys.
From the Paper "As an agent of socialization in today's society, movies play a very large role in sculpting the thoughts, opinions, and actions of children and young adults. Most movies portray men as strong, dominant, intimidating, independent, respected and in control. By doing this, we as a society are reinforcing in boys that violence is conceived to be a normal part of being men and is admired."
Abstract This essay outlines the way in which popular representations of sexuality (i.e., masculinity) must reproduce a specific kind of 'normal' in order to appeal to the masses. It establishes the definitions and 'appearance' of the differing types of masculinity, highlighting the nature of these as social constructs, but also the continual need and perpetuation of such constructs as natural or 'fact'. The essay highlights, through the use of two modern representations, the movie, "The Siege", and the series, "Ally McBeal", the way in which differing masculinities are unconsciously propagated in modern culture. NOTE: Hilarious use of Ally McBeal material, dialogue included in appendix.
From the Paper "The mass media is produced and consumed in a commercial context. To reap the most financial gain it is therefore imperative that the material to be consumed is comprehensible for the intended audience. The more comprehensible and recognisable the material, the higher chances of consumption and subsequently, profit. This often means that representations of masculinity will continually reproduce the established conventions of masculine behaviour and norms (Bignell 1997:196). As a result, hegemonic masculinity, which can be defined as the dominant masculinity performed at any given time, is continually reinforced as dominant and therefore reasserted as normative in society (Cheng 1999:297-301). Subsequently, marginalised masculinities, which are perceived as lacking in relation to the supremacy of hegemonic masculinity, are continually presented as subordinate and therefore remain oppressed (Buchbinder 1994: 33). In the following examination of masculine representations, two dramatisations have been analysed for the extent to which their characters reproduce or challenge conventional masculine behaviour and norms."
Abstract This paper discusses the issues of masculinity and femininity in sport. The paper contends that in order to understand the equation of sports and masculinity, one should initially examine sports and femininity. The paper explains that those sports that are labeled feminine and would detract from rather than support a man's masculinity are those (at least in western cultures) that allow the participant to conform to the stereotypes of femininity. The function of sport in society is examined in the paper.
Outline
Introduction
Considering the Masculine and the Feminine Principles
Societal Function of Sport
Boys Will Be Boys, If They Find Out How
The Most Powerful Form of Masculinity Anecdotal Evidence
Not Playing, but Winning, Equals Masculinity Sports Dominance Equals Dominance, Period
Conclusion
From the Paper "French, German, Spanish and a number of other languages ascribe gender-masculinity and femininity-to every noun in the language. Sometimes the reasoning is not accessible: Why should a German ornament--denoted by the word Schmuck--be masculine, for instance? And why should Schrift (writing) be feminine? While these are imponderables, understanding the masculine qualities of sports is less difficult. Indeed, understanding that, in modern society, sports are equated with masculinity is not difficult at all. Despite the labeling of various activities as masculine and feminine, sports "have generally been labeled as masculine, although some sports are considered to be feminine" (Koivula 2001 377+). Koivula believes that sport is a representation of the cultural milieu in which it occurs and that sports both reflect and reproduce the attitudes, beliefs, rituals and values of the society. "It is therefore argued that sport has been, and continues to be, a site for the construction, reconstruction, strengthening, and naturalization of perceived gender differences" (Koivula 2001 377+), and notably, it contributes to the ways in which each gender is valued by society."
Abstract This paper includes a reaction to the reading of three works regarding the sociology of cities. The basic thrust of the essay is that cities can still thrive if they stress values and cultural elements which give them a competitive advantage. Austin and Miami are examples used in the readings. An effort is made to tie the readings together and explain why these cities thrive.
From the Paper "In their introductory sociology text, Giddens, Duneier, and Appelbaum point to cities as important forces in socialization because it is in the city that life teems and tosses in a stew of human activity fueling creativity, conflict, diversity, progress, industrialization, and organization. It is in the city that humans come together for struggle or education and the ideas that come out of that clash often lead the progress in economic development, personal enlightenment, human rights, and other important social developments. Because of the proximity of other humans in the city, people are forced to come face to face with their prejudices and their own ideologies. That is the reason the city has a special place in the creative conflict that is human history. But do cities really matter anymore?"
Abstract This article studies the works of Judith Butler and George Mosse in order to discuss a definition of gender and masculinity. The writer discusses that Butler has controversial theories about gender roles and the need to discard current concepts of sex and gender. In this paper, the writer looks at her views of feminist theory. The writer explains how Mosse looks at the development of masculinity from the mid-1800s.
From the Paper "Judith Butler considers herself primarily committed to feminist theory and believes that gender comes from performativity. She distinguishes performativity from performance by explaining that the former presumes a subject but the latter does not accept the idea of a subject. Butler does not believe in distinctions between male and female but rather that they are based on performativity. For instance she does not see such factors as the ability to become pregnant, as being necessary to define a woman. She points out that there are females very young ... "
Abstract This paper examines the essay "Indians: Textualism, Morality, and the Problem of History" by Jane Tompkins, which provides an important perspective from which to analyze masculinity in films such as "Star Wars", "Malcolm X", and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". The paper shows that each of these classic twentieth century films provides a somewhat different generational view of masculinity, for they were produced about a generation apart in time.
From the Paper "Using the essay "'Indians': Textualism, Morality, and the Problem of History" by Jane Tompkins as a cinematic and historical lens provides an important perspective from which to analyze masculinity in films such as Star Wars, Malcolm X, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Each of these classic twentieth century films provides a somewhat different generational view of masculinity, for they were produced about a generation apart in time. In her essay, Tompkins notes that, "the mind of man is the basic factor in human history," (Tompkins 721) and the classic Hollywood Western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance reflects this assessment, for it presented prevailing societal attitudes about the fundamental importance of masculinity as a historical force."
Abstract This essay critically assesses the contribution of cultural sociology to the understanding of religion. It does this by first examining and summarizing how three "classical sociological theorists" (i.e.: Weber, Durkheim and Marx) see the nature of religion as a cultural form. It then looks at various recent theories of religion under globalization. The author then assesses the contribution that these cultural theories give to the understanding of real religious phenomena through examining whether they can help in an understanding of Islamic fundamentalism in general, and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria specifically. The paper includes extensive use of quotes from the three theorists.
From the Paper "In fact, according to Giddens, Marx believed that religion is the "opium of the people" (Giddens, 1996, p464). In other words, Marx believed that religion defers happiness and rewards to the afterlife, teaching the acceptance of existing conditions in this life. This means that attention is diverted away from inequalities and injustices in this life by promising a better future in the Afterlife. In addition to this, Budd believes that Marx thought religion not only reflected the suffering of the working class, but offered a "fantasy escape" from that suffering (Budd, 1973). Marx believed that religion had a very powerful ideological element, and that religious beliefs and values often provide justifications of inequalities of wealth and power (Giddens, 1996). He further claims that religion often has ideological implications which serve to justify the interests of the ruling class at the expense of other subordinate classes (Giddens, 1996)."
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of the scientific method to sociological research. The author explains the way it is employed in sociological studies.
From the Paper "When considering the field of sociology, many researchers reject the idea that it may be classified as a science in the same sense that biology and chemistry are. Indeed many believe that because sociology studies phenomena that usually..."
Tags:sociology, science, scientfic method, hypothesis, data
Abstract The writer of this essay examines sociological perspectives for law enforcement. In this article, perspectives on crime and crime prevention are explored. The writer discusses sociology as a tool, that can be used at the planning and policy levels to devise more effective crime prevention strategies.
From the Paper "The first reaction of a working law enforcement officer on hearing the word sociology is likely to be negative. It evokes a mental image of naive professors who have little or no experience of crime, its perpetrators or its victims and who spend their time coming up with theories of root causes of crime that supposedly absolve criminals of all responsibility for their actions. This image, however, has been largely created by Hollywood and has little more ... "
Abstract The paper examines a few key components of Durkheim's path breaking work. Specifically, the paper reviews Durkheim's rules for the sociological method, as well as his functionalist approach to sociology. No less important, some time is devoted to examining why social integration and social solidarity were so important to his functionalist theory.
From the Paper "Emile Durkheim's contributions to sociology are voluminous. The following paper will examine a few key components of Durkheim's path-breaking work. Specifically, the next several pages will review Durkheim's rules for the sociological method, as well as his functionalist approach to sociology; no less importantly, some time will be devoted to examining why social integration and social solidarity were so important to his functionalist theory. From there, the paper will review the relevance of Durkheim's sociology to today's world and conclude with how his sociological method might be modified to address with a pressing social issue taking place presently."
Abstract This paper proposes that the study of sociology is readily applicable to the workplace. Although sociology explores human society, the author contends that social arrangements found in the world also exist within human organizations. This discipline can tell us much about business structures and corporations.
From the Paper "Sociology, as most of us well know, is the study of human society and of the social institutions and arrangements human beings create. What is perhaps less well-known, however, is that sociology also tells us much about the business structures and corporations which define our contemporary world. For example, it seems logical to conclude that the same social arrangements which inform the world outside a large organization are the very same ones found inside a large organization - for the most part. Therefore, business or professional organizations in a patriarchal (or matriarchal) society can be reasonably expected"
Abstract This paper examines the concepts of gender inequality and racial prejudice from James M. Henslin's "Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach". The author points out that the dimensions of each of these structural injustices.
From the Paper "In James M Henslin's "Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach", many issues and concepts encapsulated within the domain of sociology are explored. Of these, two issues are particularly compelling in light of one another -- gender inequality and racial prejudice. Each of ..."
