Henry Delaney

Mrs. Fielding
WRTC 103
September 11, 2017
The Male Gender

The definition of masculinity is possessing the qualities traditionally associated with men.

Consistently men in our society today, and in the past, have had power over women and other

nonbinary people. I personally do not agree with this view in our society. The people in this

group have certain beliefs, principles, and actions. These actions define what they and their

group stand for. I have had certain experiences where I displayed these actions and beliefs. These

experiences have shown me that I have certain characteristics of masculinity. Historically,

culturally, and systematically, men hold power over women and nonbinary people.

Unfortunately, I am a part of this unfair privilege and have experienced the pressures of

upholding our societys standards of masculinity.

The founding principles of being a man or having masculinity is what separates this

group from other genders. First, men are both consciously and subconsciously considered

superior to women in our society: Despite increases in equality between men and women in the

past century, most patriarchal societies, the United States included, still endorse the idea that

men are naturally superior to women in public affairs and that they deserve authority over

women in the home (Darity). Although I do not agree with this standard, it is true that being a

man gives a person more benefits in areas such as finding a job and having high ranking

positions. Second, men are supposed to have strength and power in society: Masculinity instead

encourages men to focus on achieving power through independence, aggression, and violence

(Darity). Thus, to be a man means that a male person cannot be weak or have any femininity in

their characteristics or actions. Finally, men are not supposed to express positive or saddened
emotions. In our society if a man expresses any form of these types of emotions they are

considered weak. For example, if a man was to start crying at a sad movie than he would

probably be looked down upon by other men: ...masculinity confines and isolates men

emotionally (Darity). This can be hard on most men because in order to keep their

masculinity they have to keep their emotions bottled up.

I consider myself to be a part of mens grouping and have many characteristics that show

my masculinity. First, I internally and externally believe that I have to be strong to be a man; to

be weak is to be considered less than manly according to societal pressures. Moreover, this is

because I think it is important to have physical and mental strength especially when faced with

certain tasks. I think that it is sometimes hard for me to express emotion, so I choose not to. The

reason why is because it is not socially allowed for a man to express their emotion. This

emotional suppression plays into the facade than men must be tough. In the physical aspect men

are considered stronger than women. This can play into the factor of jobs especially ones that

require physical labor. Being a man can help your chances in getting this type of job.

I am very protective over my family and property. I think that it is important to keep

people safe and that it is my duty as a man to protect other people. An example would be when

my friends and I go out I feel the need to watch over them and make sure everyone is all right.

An experience that I had that made me feel that I was part of this group was when I went to a

concert with my friends over the summer. After the concert was over my friends Molly, Natalie,

Jack and I were walking to our car through Camden, NJ. Camden was known for having a lot of

crime, and I knew that going into the situation. The streets were very dark and I felt very

paranoid, and the car was parked in a lot about fifteen minutes away from the concert. I knew

before we left I would have to make sure that we did not walk down the wrong street or run into
trouble. I felt that I had to protect my friends and that we all got home okay. I told them that I

will make sure that we all get there all right and my friend Molly asked why I have to be so

protective and that they are able to protect themselves. I didn't really reply, but I was thinking

because that's what guys have to do. We were walking down one street that didn't have many

people on it. I suggested that we walk another way, but that would have taken us about an extra

ten minutes. We were walking down one street and I saw a group of guys sitting on the front

porch of their house. They started shouting stuff at us. I got a little uncomfortable and felt that if

something were to happen I would have to step in because I couldn't let the girls or Jack get hurt

in any way. I started to get very protective and told my friends to cross the street. Once we did

that the group started saying more stuff. They asked what we were doing and I just put my

friends on the opposite side of the group and separated them. I didn't say anything because I

didn't want to provoke anything, but I thought that something might happen. We eventually

made it to the end of the street and the group stopped shouting. I was happy that the

confrontation was over. I felt that if anything happened I would have to make sure my friends

were safe even if that meant putting myself in danger. I believe that this is a characteristic of

being a man. Throughout history men have been considered the protectors. They have been

soldiers, guard, and even the defenders of their own homes. Knowing this I believe that being a

man is to protect.

I had another experience where I felt I had to uphold what it is to be man. My friends and

I were at a party one weekend and the entire night this one guy was picking on one of my

friends. I didn't know who he was or what his problem was with my friend, but it seemed to be

bothering him. My friend and this guy eventually got into a fight and the guy started getting

physically hostel. I stepped in between my friend and the guy and I shoved him pretty hard
across the room. I stood there as my friend stood behind and looked down on the guy. I told the

guy not to talk to my friend again and he got up and walked away. I felt that I needed to step in

and that a man would do the same thing I would. Im pressured to be the protective one because I

am a man. In turn, I feel uncomfortable or stressed out when I have to assume this role of

responsibility and protection; I also gloss over my friends abilities to protect themselves, which

is not right to do.

I believe that being man means that you must be strong and should not show emotion. I

tend to think that masculinity is something that I am and a part of. Although men are considered

the higher standard in our society I believe that this privilege is unfair, and I do not agree with it.

I do although believe that I as a man have to act as one and have masculinity. The experiences

I've had have with this have shown me that I have these certain characteristics.

Sources

"Men." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by William A. Darity, Jr.,

2nd ed., vol. 5, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 80-82. Gale Virtual Reference Library,

Brett. What Is the Core of Masculinity? The Art of Manliness, 25 May 2016,
www.artofmanliness.com/2014/04/07/what-is-the-core-of-masculinity/.