A harmful masculine construct
Wes Ogburn
Davis-Sowers
Final Exam Essay
Harmful Masculinity
Up until relatively recent, sociologists have focused on studying down whereby the focus of research was on the underprivileged and underrepresented. Currently the tables have shifted. Studying up is the new trend. In studying up researchers expend their energies on breaking down the privileged and overrepresented. Understanding men's lives is on the cutting edge field of sociology and a prime example of studying up. Men have unique problems that have historically gone unnoticed. One of the major problems that face men today is the rigid social construction of masculinity. The definition of what it means to be masculine has profound and potentially dangerous effects on the lives of many men. Although definitions of masculinity vary and absolute statements inevitably exclude some, there are strong trends that pervade the conception of what it means to be a man. In general, to be a man it is expected that one is fearless, detached, and independent. These characteristics can have negative affects on men's behavior and their overall health status including the physical and mental.
The expected fearlessness of masculinity can cause men to engage in dangerous behaviors that place them at higher risk for injury and even death (Anderson, 2005). One of these behaviors is binge drinking. Capraro (2000) highlights the problem of men and binge drinking by honing in on the concept of drinking as a “male domain” whereby drinking becomes “male dominated, male identified, and male centered” (p. 183). Accordingly, it is not surprising that in researching drinking behavior men have been found to be in the bulk of the studies (Capraro, 2000). In an interesting understanding of the association between men and drinking Capraro argues that “drinking makes men feel strong and assertive” which is how they are “suppose to feel” (p. 186). In addition to drinking men are more likely than women to engage in risky behaviors such as reckless driving, criminal activity, and take jobs that have dangerous requirements. Capraro's statement on drinking and masculinity can also be applied to the former supporting the characteristic of fearlessness as a negative and hazardous expectation for men.
The masculine trait of being independent has serious consequences on the physical health status of men. Independence hurts men physically to the extent that isolation can bring about depression with physical symptoms. Man as independent warrior, is man with little to no emotional connections and subsequently little to no social support. Without social support men are prone to depression and its accompanying physical ailments. Additionally, men are less likely than women to visit a doctor and are less likely to view symptoms of illness as being serious. Consequently men are at higher risks of dying from diseases that are preventable through early detection and treatment.
The inability to keep up with the masculine archetype can cause disturbances in a man's mental health. Very few, if any men, fit the full standard of masculinity. As result there can be anxiety between the real self and the expected self. Capraro articulates this conflict through gender-role conflict and gender-role strain. Gender-role conflict is “a psychological state in which gender roles have negative consequences on the individual or others through the restriction, devaluation, or violation of oneself or others.” Gender-role strain is “physical or psychological tension experienced as an outcome of gender-role conflict” (O'Neil, 1990; Capraro, 2000 p 184). The pressure to be a man is heavy and often times it is unattainable. Capraro argues that gender-role conflict and gender-role strain are founded in shame and fear and consequently leave men in a less than desirable mental state, anxious or depressed.
In conclusion it is evident that rigid standards of masculinity have harmful effects on the men in this society. The current perceptions of what it is to be a man can foster dangerous behavior, a lack of care for the body, and maladaptive coping skills. Often times men are seen as being over privileged and are therefore viewed as being exempt from the pernicious effects of the masculine expectation. By a means of studying up researchers are able to tease out the harmful effects of a socially constructed notion of masculinity and dismantle its destruction.
Davis-Sowers
Final Exam Essay
Harmful Masculinity
Up until relatively recent, sociologists have focused on studying down whereby the focus of research was on the underprivileged and underrepresented. Currently the tables have shifted. Studying up is the new trend. In studying up researchers expend their energies on breaking down the privileged and overrepresented. Understanding men's lives is on the cutting edge field of sociology and a prime example of studying up. Men have unique problems that have historically gone unnoticed. One of the major problems that face men today is the rigid social construction of masculinity. The definition of what it means to be masculine has profound and potentially dangerous effects on the lives of many men. Although definitions of masculinity vary and absolute statements inevitably exclude some, there are strong trends that pervade the conception of what it means to be a man. In general, to be a man it is expected that one is fearless, detached, and independent. These characteristics can have negative affects on men's behavior and their overall health status including the physical and mental.
The expected fearlessness of masculinity can cause men to engage in dangerous behaviors that place them at higher risk for injury and even death (Anderson, 2005). One of these behaviors is binge drinking. Capraro (2000) highlights the problem of men and binge drinking by honing in on the concept of drinking as a “male domain” whereby drinking becomes “male dominated, male identified, and male centered” (p. 183). Accordingly, it is not surprising that in researching drinking behavior men have been found to be in the bulk of the studies (Capraro, 2000). In an interesting understanding of the association between men and drinking Capraro argues that “drinking makes men feel strong and assertive” which is how they are “suppose to feel” (p. 186). In addition to drinking men are more likely than women to engage in risky behaviors such as reckless driving, criminal activity, and take jobs that have dangerous requirements. Capraro's statement on drinking and masculinity can also be applied to the former supporting the characteristic of fearlessness as a negative and hazardous expectation for men.
The masculine trait of being independent has serious consequences on the physical health status of men. Independence hurts men physically to the extent that isolation can bring about depression with physical symptoms. Man as independent warrior, is man with little to no emotional connections and subsequently little to no social support. Without social support men are prone to depression and its accompanying physical ailments. Additionally, men are less likely than women to visit a doctor and are less likely to view symptoms of illness as being serious. Consequently men are at higher risks of dying from diseases that are preventable through early detection and treatment.
The inability to keep up with the masculine archetype can cause disturbances in a man's mental health. Very few, if any men, fit the full standard of masculinity. As result there can be anxiety between the real self and the expected self. Capraro articulates this conflict through gender-role conflict and gender-role strain. Gender-role conflict is “a psychological state in which gender roles have negative consequences on the individual or others through the restriction, devaluation, or violation of oneself or others.” Gender-role strain is “physical or psychological tension experienced as an outcome of gender-role conflict” (O'Neil, 1990; Capraro, 2000 p 184). The pressure to be a man is heavy and often times it is unattainable. Capraro argues that gender-role conflict and gender-role strain are founded in shame and fear and consequently leave men in a less than desirable mental state, anxious or depressed.
In conclusion it is evident that rigid standards of masculinity have harmful effects on the men in this society. The current perceptions of what it is to be a man can foster dangerous behavior, a lack of care for the body, and maladaptive coping skills. Often times men are seen as being over privileged and are therefore viewed as being exempt from the pernicious effects of the masculine expectation. By a means of studying up researchers are able to tease out the harmful effects of a socially constructed notion of masculinity and dismantle its destruction.