Masculinity in America

By: Kiara Bell

Throughout the years, feminism has become such a popular and controversial topic. I am always hearing about how women feel as though we need to try extremely hard to fit into a certain image and look a certain way. I have heard often that women try to resemble and imitate the “ideal” woman so they will be accepted into today’s society. However, women aren’t the only ones experiencing the struggles of fitting in and fulfilling the proper gender role. Men have been facing everyday issues of not resembling the ideal male figure.

In today’s society, manliness is very important to Americans.[1] Through the perceptions of gender roles throughout the years, refraining from showing any type of weakness or vulnerability is still a very common stereotype in men. [2] There are other various stereotypes that men still try to live by, some of them talk about how real men can handle their booze and that real men drive fast. Others discuss how real men don’t get sick but real men do work out hard. One that I didn’t find to be very shocking was that for true manliness to be achieved, the more sexual partners one has the better. Sex can be looked at as a prerequisite to becoming a true macho man.

Although I highly dislike the fact that these stereotypes even exist and wish they didn’t affect men, these certain ideals of manliness and masculinity can influence them to act or think a certain way which can eventually become detrimental to a man’s health overall. With the drinking, for example, the unfortunate outlook made about drinking can cause some men to binge which can then lead to all kinds of health problems like   

heart disease and mental health issues. This issue of masculinity has been around for a very long time. One of the original images that men attempted living up to is the George Washington figure and that made men feel the need to fight oppression and bring honor to their native land. When we lived in a patriarchal society, men were required to be the main provider of the household. There were so many different ideal figures the men tried to live up to. There was the homesteader who was expected to till the Earth and protect his family. There was the farmer who cultivated his land with only a plow, horse, and the help of his sons. There was the wealthy businessman who was mostly successful in the cities. As you can see, there were so many different kinds of figures that men were, and still are, supposed to live up to. Sadly, if they don’t then they are viewed as weak and insignificant.

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[1] Garland, Eric. The Crisis of American Masculinity (blog), December 20, 2012, http://www.ericgarland.co/2012/12/20/the-crisis-of-american-masculinity/.

[2] Myers, Wyatt. 7 Macho Mistakes: Why Being a Macho, Macho Man Is Bad for Your Health. November 18, 2013. http://www.everydayhealth.com/mens-health-pictures/why-being-a-macho-macho-man-is-bad-for-your-health.aspx