Doing Masculinity, Not Doing Health

It is common knowledge that women's life expectancy exceeds men's life expectancy in most developed countries. Could differences in health relate to the way we socialize masculinity and gender? A recent study conducted on Dutch males suggests that it could. The study found that males tend to view health in terms of challenging one's health or pushing one's body. This is demonstrated by men's emphasis on looks and muscle building. In contrast, actually taking care of your health was perceived as feminine, as thus, something to avoid. The study found that men thought "real men" were competitive and not whiners or vulnerable. This competitiveness was thought to form men's ideals surrounding health. This article demonstrates the very real consequences that result from men being socialized to constantly be in competition with one another. Furthermore, it illustrates men's willingness to actively avoid good things (such as taking care of your body) if these things are perceived as feminine. We are training the men in our society to value a rigid definition of masculinity above their health.

Doing masculinity, not doing health? A qualitative study among Dutch male employees about health beliefs and workplace physical activity

Transgender 7-year-old Allowed to Be Girl Scout

In 2011, a 7 year old named Bobby Montoya, who identifies as a girl, was accepted as a Girl Scout in Colorado. Bobby's mother allows him the freedom to be and dress how he wants, knowing his happiness is the most important factor. One clinical psychologist in Denver is quoted in the article: "I have a general philosophy about parenting," Dr. Worthy said. "Children are born like rocks. I mean, they're rough around the edges, and our job as parents is to flow over them like a stream and smooth out the rough edges. But the problem is when you try to mold them into what you want, you have to break them, you have to crack them, you have to change the shape. And when people aren't whole, and they aren't who they fully intend to be, then that's a difficult process also." Boys must be allowed to perform masculinity in their own way to develop healthy functioning. Bobby says he is bullied at school, and it "...hurts [him] and [his] mom both," but he chooses to stay true to himself and be strong in the face of bullies.

Read more about it HERE.  

Masculinity in the Film Industry

http://shitpeoplesaytowomendirectors.tumblr.com/

I am currently an aspiring director attending film school and interning with a broadcast television network. I have to say, even on the student level, that many of the things in this forum hit very close to home. I have been called "Mom" in a derogatory manner while assistant directing, been asked repeatedly if I need help with my equipment, and even attracted unwanted attention from male crew members. I am curious about the mind set of the men in the industry and their particular brand of masculinity that leads them to continue to embrace and nurture such a patriarchal system in Hollywood and beyond. Many of the men in this blog seem to feel the need to show their superiority by making women feel lesser or that their work is not as valuable. Often there is the feeling of a math equation in a crew situation. Where there can only be two girls on the crew or at least three of the production team keys have to be male. Why is this? There is always that image floating in history of the Orson Welles, big, strong, domineering director who is large and in charge on the set. This idea is haunting and I think part of a masculine Hollywood fantasy that refuses to die. Take a look at this photo by renowned artist Annie Leibovitz. It features George Clooney as the director surrounded by a literal sea of passive women. I love the quote from Kathryn Bigelow (the only woman to ever win the academy award for best director) about how the film is what matters not the gender of the filmmaker. Steps are being made in the direction of inclusion and diversity, as shown by the work of such organizations as the Film Fatales, but there is still a ways to go.

"Are You Man Enough?"

Merriam-Webster defines the term 'masculine' as “of, relating to, or suited to men or boys; grammar in some languages: of or belonging to the class of words (called a gender) that ordinarily includes most of the words referring to males (Merriam-Webster).” I want to touch on the introduction of masculinities, and the stereotypes that face young boys, and even girls today. I found these two website interesting. First is an interview about stereotypical masculinity, and a reporters’ view of it. Also below is a Planned Parenthood page, which under ‘What is Feminine? What is Masculine?’ includes commonly used words to describes the stereotype. Stereotyping is dangerous when it comes to raising children. Boys wear blue, girls wear pink, boys don’t cry, girls are sensitive. I question how the world can grow and progress, and teach people equality when we are always labeling and expecting different things from boys and girls. Why can’t a child grow up to be unique and there own person without society butting in and forming them to their standards? This is one of the many things wrong with society. We want to progress as a nation but yet we are still stuck in ‘old-fashioned’ ways of thinking.

http://baylorlariat.com/2014/02/05/boys-dont-cry-stereotypes-harm-masculinity/

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation-gender/gender-gender-identity

The Way This Dad Reacted When His Son Chose A Doll For A Gift Is Priceless

It shouldn't be a "to do" or big deal but it is what it is in our current social context so bravo daddy-o!"My job as daddy is to provide a safe playing field for my boys to play whatever game they choose, or better yet, create their own game," Willis wrote on Facebook. "I trust that by the time they realize the world isn't as accepting as mommy and daddy they'll have such a solid foundation that nothing will shake their stance to fully, and unabashedly be themselves."

The Way This Dad Reacted When His Son Chose A Doll For A Gift Is Priceless

Chick Flicks

The very name chick flicks (slang name) refers to movies targeted towards the female audience or associated directly with femininity because of the high level of emotion and romance they contain. Many men when asked, would deny being into click flicks or state that only feminine men/gays or sissy men enjoy watching those movies. Why are so many men threaten? Men who usually make these comments fear that watching and enjoying these movies will strip away some of their masculinity and leave them exposed and vulnerable.

Read the story of one man who is proud to admit he likes chick flicks and why:

The Masculine Mystique

The Masculine Mystique--NY Times

" 'The whole thing is really strange, and sometimes I can’t — ” he said, his voice evaporating into the wonder of it all. He was not even sure how to identify Ms. Tutera, gender-wise. Was she transgender or just mannish? Sometimes it was hard to know such things. What he knew was that she had changed his life. “When we started this business, it was for money,” he said. “And now it’s not. It was the emotion, the excitement that people had, that became everything for the company. At least for me. You don’t expect to turn a corner and that’s what you’re going to find.' " For most of her life, Ms. Tutera said, this meant choosing between clothes that did not fit her physique and those that did not fit her sense of self. I think this is a really awesome idea--to make clothes more sex-neutral or at least able to accommodate either sex. When you think about it, doesn't it seem a little crazy that clothing items are sex-specific in regards to style? Who gets to decide what a female should wear as opposed to a male?  This article is a sign of improvement in regards to gender constraints. 

"Tough" Enough? Oh YES!

In Wyoming, he's tough enough to be a sissy--LA Times

"Cross-dressing is widely considered aberrant behavior even in the most liberal big cities, but out here in the nation's least-populated state, the practice is almost unthinkable. For decades, Goodwin has endured a profoundly hostile environment. He has stood up to bigotry and has begun to make a difference." 

I loved this article!! I think individuals like Goodwin are incredibly brave and refreshing. In a society that emphasizes masculinity in male bodies, and particularly in a small town in Wyoming, it takes a lot of courage to oppose these stereotypes. And what's so wrong with that? Goodwin is an all-around 'normal' male who loves his family and participates as a productive member of society--he just prefers to do so in a dress! Goodwin was even arrested in a department store in 1979 for cross-dressing in public. Can you believe that? Police insisted he dressed as a male is expected to but Goodwin refused, claiming what he was doing was not illegal. As a result of his strength, police were forced to back down and were later offered diversity training. Despite this cruelty along with many other hardships, Goodwin continues to dress as he pleases. 

Talking 'Bout Masculinity

We need to talk about masculinity--The Guardian

This article acknowledges the implications of a patriarchal and masculine culture from a male perspective. Although it is easy to analyze disparities created by patriarchy and masculinity from a female perspective, understanding that men are negatively affected by these constraints is of equal importance. The author asks questions like "who asked men and boys if they actually wanted to be breadwinners?" and "when will society be willing to let go of the old 'breadwinner' model of masculinity?" Although men may benefit from patriarchy and masculinity as interlocking systems, everyone has something to be gained from putting challenging gendered stereotypes. This issue that is largely emphasized in third wave feminism and is one of many reasons feminism is not only a women's issue--everyone has something gain from its goals.

Popping Tags and Breaking Free from the Norm

I can't help but LOVE Macklemore. Not only are his songs entirely too catchy (tell me you haven't used the "cold ass honkey" line at least once), but he is breaking free of so many gender roles and definitions of masculinity it is absurd. 

Thrift Shop, for example, is a fabulous slap in the face to the constant pressure the music industry gives us to have more money than we know what to do with. It counters songs with lyrics like "All I care about is money in the city that I'm from," or "Bands will make her dance," and instead embraces the fabulosity of "balling on a budget." Sorry, I couldn't help myself with that last quoted phrase.

On top of that, his effort for equal rights among all people -- specifically the gay and lesbian community -- is heartwarming. He sings/raps about accepting something that many rappers use as an insult against one another in their lyrics. He discusses what a fear it was for him at the possibility of being gay, and the stereotypes that go along with both homosexuality and heterosexuality. And, he's making money off of it. I think it's such a refreshing change of pace, and I hope that this sets a standard for the future of music. 

A 'Cosmo' Shift?

Cosmo Getting Real(?)

Recently, the magazine Cosmopolitan has had its share of fairly progressive articles dealing with reproductive justice. This is a positive move considering their usual articles and their general target audience of the "do it all" and "do it all while looking good" woman.

“It all comes down to one core value, which is that we are unequivocally for women’s rights. It’s that simple,” Cosmopolitan.com’s editor, Amy Odell, told ThinkProgress when asked about the apparent editorial shift

Strong Women vs. Powerful Men

I am fortunate enough to work at a publication whose edit and design team are comprised of women -- and it's not a women's magazine. My editor-in-chief, senior editor, photo editor, designer, and myself all work every day to compose a magazine on advanced scuba diving, which may be thought of as a male sport. (A fun side note, my senior editor just returned from a dive trip in Cuba. Where she swam with crocodiles. Talk about impressive!)

However, the people in charge of the publishing company I am employed by -- the CEOs who bring home checks that I can only dream about -- are all men. Why is this? Why is it that with so many brazen, brilliant and ballsy women in the publishing field, men are still the driving force? And, moreover, why aren't more men focused on the editorial aspect of the business?

It makes me think that, in line with gender roles, men seek employment that raises them above the pay grade. They feel that they need to compete with one another, and as a result they seek out the jobs that offer more money and status. Whereas women (or maybe just me, specifically) care less about the money and more about the passion for the job we're doing.

Army and women's health

Women's health in the Army

with all of the crap the armed forces has been getting (and rightfully so) about their lack of support they offer to women facing a multitudes of problems while serving our country its' nice to see them do something on their own with out being compelled to by the media or by congress. the real results will remain to be seen but it's a start.

Eating Disorders: Silent Epidemic?

I've always thought of eating disorders as a hyper-feminine issue. But they've always intrigued me, and I thought further investigation would be interesting relative to masculine theories.

We've discussed in class that men are also faced with an unrealistic expectation of what their bodies should look like, though it does not have as much emphasis on being uber thin -- more uber muscular. However, according to this document, 10 million males will suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder in America. Additionally, it shows that men are also often dissatisfied with their bodies. And, while I feel like I can go on about the media too much at times, I believe it is a large part of why individuals feel this way, both men and women. The sad fact is that men are less likely to seek help for their problems, which could lead to continued disordered eating and emotional and physical trauma as well. Is this because men are embarrassed of their disorder, because it could be seen as emasculating? I'm not sure what the issue is, though it should be noted that binge eating disorder is one of the more common issues, and that is typically accompanied by weight gain as opposed to loss. It's crazy how different one problem can affect different genders so very differently, yet they are dealing with the same struggle. 

changing masculinity present day

new masculinity      I'm glad a program like this exist I'm interested in learning more about simply because of this quote from the CEO of this non profit.

"I see a world where men are taking individual and collective action to create healthier and more nurturing communities. When I look at the immense amount of violence perpetrated by men, when I look at child abuse and domestic violence, or when I look at the staggering statistics about men committing suicide, or other problems like obesity, fatherlessness, and addiction ... I feel compelled to action. The men I know in the ManKind Project feel the same way. We want a better world for our wives and partners, for our kids and grandkids. We take action to make changes at the root of the issue ... with fundamental beliefs and behaviors connected to masculinity. We create a new way of being a man in a world that really needs good men."

An argument against equal pay

The one logical argument against equal pay

Because of I'll be it rightful outrage against most Republicans in congress voting against the pay check fairness act recently and the comments Republican Activist Phyllis Schlafly made about the subject here it was nice to see someone try to argue against it with out sounding like a complete idiot. In my personal opinion I think her argument is still flawed but at least its an argument that you probably didn't here on TV.  

Let's Talk About Men!

Image found on Idealshape.com

Getting Back to What Makes Men Tick

 "Masculinity is something that is never fully possessed but must be perpetually achieved, asserted and renegotiated."

And with that, silence fell over the discussion over why some men are the way they are and why some aren't. This article brings up the interesting fact that we tend not to try to discuss too much why a man acts a certain way. Often in the cases of violence and abuse there is either some victim blaming or demonizing without much curiosity on either side. 

It's easy to show the dark, ugly side of the connection between masculinity and abuse of any kind, but it's a lot harder to peek behind the curtain and get to the root of the problem, which is what we should all be doing.

Colby Kincaid (man? woman? badass!)

Ms. Kincaid would love to know that I am presenting her in my final post this semester.  I can not begin to tell you how much she taught me about masculinity, femininity and the grey area that exists in between.

She always used to say "the pretty don't last forever, you really have to find what makes you happy before its all over."   She was soft and caring and at the same time aggressive and assertive. Being born male, she didn't possess the trappings of female gendering, and although she embraced her feminine side, she never lost sight of her masculinity.

Where does someone like Ms. Kincaid fit into our society? What rights did she have? Why was she a second class citizen under our laws?  How could she live in such a open city like Key West and have been so oppressed by Florida State laws?

If you have breasts and a penis, why can't you choose which bathroom to use? And why is that even an issue? Does a business have the right to question what is under your skirt?

I have never met a more balanced individual than my friend Colby.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to experience both your masculine and feminine sides to the degree you find desirable, without societies restrictions?

SVU Raises Questions

The other day, I was watching Law & Order: SVU. It's admittedly an addiction of mine. But this particular episode made me think a lot about not only theories of masculinity, but gender roles as well.

In this episode, a boyfriend appears to be covering up for his girlfriend, who is suspected of committing a murder. Obviously, the plot twists and turns throughout the course of the story, but the biggest plot twist comes when it is revealed that the girlfriend is biologically male. She intends to get sex-reassignment surgery, but her boyfriend is unaware of her biological sex. When he finds out, he allows her to go down for the murder -- disgusted by the fact that she has a penis. But then the issue is presented: what jail does this woman go to?

The district attorneys argue on whether or not she can go to a women's prison, which is eventually denied. Instead, this woman is forced into a male prison, and subsequently is abused and I believe murdered in the end.

How is this possibly fair? She identifies as a woman. She is in the process of becoming a woman. Why can't she go to a women's jail? Further, it brings up the violent nature of masculinity in a prison setting, because it was basically known before she entered the prison that she would be assaulted, yet they forced her into the jail regardless. I understand that this is a TV show, but what of the transgendered people who have to be incarcerated? Do they conform to pretend that they are the sex their biology represents? Or do they hold true to the person that they are, potentially risking everything?

You Go, Planned Parenthood!

I have never thought of Planned Parenthood as a progressive organization.  I simply saw them as the birth control and abortion go to place that filled a space that governments could not occupy.

Visiting their website has given me a whole new outlook on their mission.

They even address gender and gender stereotypes and provide information about how to respond to gendering.

A Quote from the site

"We see gender stereotypes all around us. We also may see sexism. There are ways to challenge these stereotypes to help everyone, no matter their gender or gender identity, feel equal."

• Point it out.
• Walk the talk 
• Speak up 
• Give it a try 

If you have been struggling with gender or gender identity, you’re not alone. It may help you to talk to a trusted parent, friend, family member, teacher, or professional counselor."

I grew up in the eighties where planned parenthood type organizations were the go to abortion place. They are so much more, working to help us all understand gendering and its confines aand giving us ideas on how to combat it:)

Female Masculinity

My aunt is a successful business woman. On top of working a 60-hour job she loves, she lives on a four-acre working farm in TN, raising rabbits, alpaca, pigs, chickens, and dogs.



My aunt is not married.

With all of the "masculine" work that needs to be done, she relishes the task, and does it.

If she wants a new desk, she refinished a table leaf, buys new legs, stains them, and builds it.

If she wants to buy and take care of a horse for a while, she does it.

If she has to build a new roof for the second chicken coop, she gets the material and creates it.

While she may not claim "full-feministic" values, she is one of the strongest pro-female voices in my life, and I learn a lot from her example. She's strong, physically and emotionally. In her job, she has to manage large teams, and she has to understand the psychology of men and women, understand their differences, and utilize their strengths and weaknesses for success.

She mentioned a book called The End of Men, and in it, she says that more and more women are going to college and getting degrees...and that perhaps at some point, women CEOs will be the norm as more and more men choose to not pursue these degrees.

She's such an interesting person. We love to listen to her stories about trainings, and her insights. Women don't raise their hands as often as men when they have questions. Why is that? What can we do personally to not feel stifled by a culture that values masculinity as the priority?

Even though we don't see eye-to-eye on every issue, it's great to have a person who thinks there should be more equality, but also doesn't ignore the differences in men and women. Instead, she utilities the strengths of both, and cultivates a desire to be intelligent regardless of gender.

Ron Swanson Masculinity

America's favorite stereotypical man's man, Ron Swanson from the show Parks and Rec, has a list of how to be a man:

Photo Credit

1. Eat meat.
2. Drink brown liquor.
3. Weapons are necessities.
4. Real men do NOT wear pink.
5. Facial hair.
6. Be self-sufficient.
7. Why pay someone when you can do it yourself?
8. Salad = evil.
9. Say "please" and "thank you."
10. Don't drink alcohol that comes from fruit.

To see Ron's handbook:

McDonald's: a Not-So-Happy Meal

Any parent, babysitter, fun aunt or uncle, grandparent, or caregiver of children has probably at some point in time gone through a Mickey D's drive-thru and ordered a Happy Meal. In fact, they go on sale in my area on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I'll be driving through myself, to get my son a "treat." 

...or toy. Read toy. 

They only want the toy.

The use of gender-biased toys is what sent Antonia Ayres-Brown, at the age of 11, to email the McDonald's CEO to complain.

In an extremely interesting article, Antonia explains the process she went through, even conducting experiments, to determine if McDonalds truly don't bias their toy-giving on gender, as per the policy the CEO stated in a letter to her.

In fact, in one study, they caught a McDonald's employee refusing to give a little girl a "boy" toy, and even lied and said they only had girl ones. They sent in an adult male a few minutes later, and he was promptly given the "boy" toy he requested for the Happy Meal. 

Not wanting to give away the ending, I suggest you take a moment and read the article here.

Innocent Gesture or Gang Sign?

As we have talked about racialized masculinities in this course I thought that this was an interesting take on racial stereotypes. All men are often seen as strong, aggressive, and assertive. White men are often praised for their aggressiveness, while men of color are seen as dangerous and are feared, These men face much more than then gendered ideas of society but also the racialized ideas. They experience, what sociologist would call "intersectionality", Their different identities intersect and cause them to experience society much differently than those without those identities. If these men of color are also young, and lower-class they will see higher levels of discrimination and stereotyping. The comic is satirical but gets the point across.

Gendered Chapstick

As we all know, the media is covered with gendered images. Turn on the television, watch youtube video, or drive your car around town and you will see "women's" products covered in flowers, pink  and round packaging and "men's" products covered in dark colored and squared packaging. Even products for young men and women have become extremely gendered. The moment that I was truly convinced that these images were ridiculous and absolutely help perpetuate gender stereotypes was when I had a male friend talk about buying "men's lip balm", a product that 100% does not have to be gendered and is only about the packaging that it comes in. When I asked him whats the difference and why it mattered he said "it's for men". The outrageousness of this idea had be baffled, that women and men could use the EXACT same product but were targeted and lured towards a certain type of product do to it's packaging and imagery. I had heard in classes also that "women's" products, although it may be the same exact thing as what men are sold, usually cost more than "men's" products.

This article is about a father who was tired of seeing his daughters targeted by companies that were using gendered imagery. He took matters into his own hands and made gender neutral personal hygiene products.




http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/04/21/fed-gender-stereotyping-dad-made-unisex-skincare-brand-teens

Flipping the Script

Dudes in Distress

The damsel in distress trope is one that has been ridden hard and often for hundreds of years. The common thought is a screaming woman being tied to railroad tracks by a mustached villain, awaiting her heroic male savior or the skilled male character overcoming a number of odds only to be told that his "princess is in another castle".

Luckily that trope has been turned upside down for a long time. There are still damsel, but there have been, and continue to be, men that need to be rescued by women both psychologically and physically. It's an interesting and great take on masculinity since the general belief is that a man doesn't need help, especially from a woman, It's great for men and women to see that saving someone isn't gender exclusive.

I'll recommend watching the video below detailing a few instances of the damsel in distress trope in gaming both old and new as well as explanations of the damsel in distress trope through history. (The video is simply a number of examples and explanations and every view is not necessarily my own)

Boys more likely to drop out of school

The above picture states that boys are 30% more likely than girls to flunk or drop out of school. Why is that? There are a few reasons I can think of that are linked to boys trying to be "masculine." From a young age, boys are taught not to never show their emotions, especially if it is crying or being upset. Maybe these boys that drop out are afraid to show that they are upset about their grades and are unable to convey their emotions in a way that could help them improve their grades. These boys also most likely do not want to show other people, especially other boys, that they are struggling and need help. Boys are always taught to do things on their own and to be a "big boy." So they may feel like they do not have help and are too proud to ask for help.
Any opinions?

"Patriarchy is for dicks"

Patriarchy is constantly reinforced in today's society. Men undoubtedly have a control over women in almost all aspects of life. The picture above shows that this phenomenon is slowly being shifted by pro-feminist/feminist men. The sign that affected me the most was the gentleman's sign in the back that reads "Women deserve to occupy all streets without fear" using a play on Wall Street. Women should have as big of a place in life as men do. However, men are still able to control women under their strict sense of patriarchy.

Patrick Stweard - Pro-Feminist Work

Many times the issues that are most dear to us, are the ones that have affected us personally. When we think of male alley's we know this is often the case, like with Sir Patrick Stewart. Growing up in an abusive home and watching his mother's experiences, violence against women and women's rights have become very public issues for him. He's been advocating for some time now, but recently it has become more popular with sites like Pinterest and Tumblr. Now teamed up with Amnesty International to create real change, he has begun to spearhead this campaign. 

As a male advocate for feminist work, he has recognized that coming into the conversation from a position of privilege he can manipulate the system to work for him. By being a male advocate, he has access to different resources than women do and realistically gets treated differently. After a lifetime of acting that has established a huge fan base, he can use both his male privilege and career to platform the work he is doing to end violence against women and improve the work done towards women's rights. 

While some of his dialogue is controversial, such as when he describes the man who hit his mother by saying 'he couldn't control himself' his honest exposition is fraught with emotional poignancy and honest sincerity to create change. Talking about his own struggles helps ground this work in honesty, motivation, and real concern

The Happiest Man in America

    I found this article that I thought relates to theories of masculinity. The Huffington Post Article was titled "Is Alvin Wong, 2010's 'Happiest Man In America,' Still Happy?."

   In 2010, The New York Times was  asked to dub "The Happiest Man In America" based on its annual Gallup- Healthways Well-Being Index. The Happiest Man in America was Alvin Wong. He was described as a tall, Asian-American, observant Jew who is at least 65 years old. He lives in Hawaii with his wife and three children. He also runs his own business and has a household income of more than $120,000 a year.

   Wong is now 72 years old. Wong's answer to the question if he is still the happy after being dubbed the Happiest Man In America is Yes. Wong says the mantra that kept him happy before the fame still works for him today. "Since being named the happiest man in America, I've done a lot of reading and research on this stuff," he says. "I learned about myself ... And I think, for my own sake, I've come to terms with what is the secret to my happiness. It's attitude."Wong certainly doesn't show any signs of slowing down. In addition to his motivational speaking, he maintains an herb garden and loves to cook Asian cuisine and barbecue for the neighboring university students (but says his wife does it better).

Here is the link to the article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/20/alvin-wong-happiest-man-america_n_5122548.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

Men Were the First to Wear High-Heeled Shoes And The Sport of Cheerleading Started Out As A Boy's Club- Interesting Facts Related To Masculinity

     I found this Huffington Post article titled "9 Facts that Traditional Definitions of Gender Roles are Bullsh*t" by Sara Boboltz. There were two very interesting historical facts that I though relate to theories of masculinity. 

     The first fact was that men were the first to wear high-heeled shoes. Persian soldiers originally wore high-heeled shoes in the name of necessity when  riding horseback since shooting an arrow from a saddle was easier with a heel to secure the foot in its strap. The European elite men then adopted the high-heeled shoe look for over a century and at this time, high-heel shoes were seen as masculine. When women started to adopted the high-heeled shoes look as well, men's shoes became stockier and shorter while women's shoes became thinner and higher. This is how high heel shoes are in modern times associated with femininity.

     The second fact was that the sport of cheerleading started out as a boy's club because it was too masculine for girls. The reason why it was considered too masculine for girls was that it would  develop powerful, unladylike voices for women. The first cheerleader was Johnny Campbell in 1898. There were three presidents that were also cheerleaders themselves- Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. In the 1920s and 1930s, women were included in the sport of cheerleading and it was not until 1960s that the sport of cheerleading became female-dominated.


Here is the link to the article:
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/16/gender-facts-traditional-roles_n_5115265.html

Masculinity and Objectivism

This is a must read book by Amber Pawlik that presents a well structured argument with an objectivists point of view when relating not only to masculinity but to femininity. I read the review and it really peaked my interest. I thought that if you want to get a deeper understanding of the objectivists argument that was mentioned in Chapter 1 of Masculinities in Theory: An Introduction. You should read it. Even though it is about finding love it is based on the objective concepts. To get an even greater understanding of why you should read it is the article that see wrote based on her arguments for the book titled The Roots of Gender: Defining Femininity and Masculinity. 

The Roots of Gender: Defining Femininity and Masculinity

The Review

Male Writers and the Female Characters They Create

Anytime I hear about a new Joss Whedon project, I instantly become curious. I know a few things right off the bat: a. it's going to be crazy and possibly break my brain b. it's going to have lots of talented familiar faces that I adore c. it's going to have sheer moments of genius that make up for all the campy cheese that will also be included and 13. it's going to have some very kick-ass and complex female characters that I really want to get to know. 

Being a child of the 90s, I grew up with Buffy and Angle, then quickly moved on to Firefly, Dollhouse, and Dr. Horrible. Recently, Agents of SHIELD has brought him back into my life. It wasn't until I was an adult, however, that I really started to hear what he was saying. Not just through his characters, though that is equally impacting, but to his audience and funders. As a man, he has always created poignant female characters right along their male counterparts. While many writers struggle with writing the opposite sex, this has never been an issue for him. His women (and men) may not be perfect, but they are real and complex and challenge what we thing time and time again. 

So does this make him a feminist? Does this make him an activist against sexism and gender inequality? Is her a pro-feminist? Let's look at his thoughts on women:

Whether you choose to use the term male feminist or pro-feminist, the point is, he is trying to treat women as what they are - people. His work has gathered a cult like following that understands and expects this. Not just from him, but from the other media, social implications, friends and family, etc. They have been exposed to what it is like for people to be treated as people and not tropes. It is not enough to simply write good characters though, as Joss continues to push. 

We need to reach a level where we stop trying to create equality and find it already inherent in society. We're no where close to this point, but through small strides progress is constantly being made. Joss has chosen to do this through his work. He writes the things he wishes to see with the people he wants us to know. Because his female characters stand out, he is often asked about them. It is kind of mind-boggling that he stands out as a creator solely based on the fact that he has these remarkable female characters, but that just goes to show that he's doing it right. 

He's hardly alone either. In regards to popular media, George R R Marin, author and creator of Game of Thrones, has a similar view on the creation of complex female characters. While the show represents a full spectrum of sexism, gender inequality, oppression, and an array of negative situations for women and men to participate in, his characters face these challenges head on. It has some of the most powerful female characters we've seen in a long time. The good ones as well as the bad, show us a spirit and cunning that is many times missing from female characterizations. 

Fantasy author, Neil Gaiman also has similar thoughts on writing women. While we see them saying over and over again that women are people, it really makes me wonder how we've come to a point where this has to be said at all. I think this is something that must be said by men. When people ask J. K. Rowling about why Hermoine is such an amazing and powerful girl, if she were to say, "Well, she's just a person." People would ask for more. If a man says it, it takes their breath away and leaves them questioning. 

So whatever label you choose to apply to men who treat women as people, be mindful of the work they are doing in bridging the gap between where we are now and where we are headed. They are doing feminist work and some of the work they do, needs to be done by men because it is shocking and that is scary. The best way to make society realize that men can see women as people, not just females, is to expose them to this. Which all of these writers are trying to do.