THE FUTURE OF MEN AND MASCULINITY
Dear Reader,
This is my last reflection for 2019. It is December again!
Young people have a different sense of time passing by. They seem to complain
that a day is soooo long and nothing to do, while older people say, “where has
the day gone?”
So, I am reflecting on a theme that I spent writing a lot
this year (see my earlier blog posts) and the central theme that attracted me
most is MASCULINITY and how the modern social networks, with their male bashing
statements, have damaged men roles and especially many are vilifying young men.
My reflections ask: what is the future of Masculinity? What
will the future bring as we examine this crisis in masculinity today? What are the
possible solutions?
Australian archaeologist Peter McAllister said, "I have
a strong feeling that masculinity is in crisis. Men are really searching for a
role in modern society; the things we used to do aren't in much demand
anymore". Others see the changing labour market as a source of stress.
Deindustrialization and the replacement of smokestack industries by technology
have allowed more women to enter the labour force, reducing its emphasis on
physical strength.
The crisis has also been attributed to the questioning of male
dominance and rights granted to men solely based on sex following the feminist
movement. British sociologist John MacInnes wrote that "masculinity has
always been in one crisis or another", suggesting that the crises arise
from the "fundamental incompatibility between the core principle of
modernity that all human beings are essentially equal (regardless of their sex)
and the core tenet of patriarchy that men are naturally superior to women and
thus destined to rule over them". Film scholar Leon Hunt also writes:
"Whenever the masculinity 'crisis' actually started, it certainly seems to
have been in place by the 1970s". (Source – Wikipedia)
Historically, it is mainly in times of physical, economic
and spiritual downfall that societies turned to the future hoping for ‘better
times’ to come. The crisis today is the way men are being put in a “toxic men
box” and therefore the future of men is uncertain.
A study at the Queensland University of Technology: THE MAN
PROJECT, confirmed the apocalyptic state that men and mostly young men are
going through. Here are some facts to consider and become aware of and share
with your male friends:
1. One in five
men experience depression in a 12 months period.
2. Three
quarters of people who die of suicide are men.
3. Six men in
Australia between the age of 15 to 44, take their lives daily.
4. One in five
men will experience a chronic anxiety condition.
5. Men are less
likely to seek help for mental health issues than women.
6. Men buy more
take away junk food and eat a lot of sugary teats on a weekly basis.
7. Only 7% of
men eat enough vegetables.
8. Men 55 and
over do not drink enough water.
9. Two in five
men drink alcohol at a risky level.
10. 54% of men are
unhappy with their body shape and weight and suffer of digestive discomfort.
11. Men become
depressed more often in a breakup of a relationship.
NOTE: The Qld. Government is funding a HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
program and provide free health coaching to prevent serious diseases such as
heart attacks, strokes and diabetes to become a chronic illness. Call: 13 74 75
Conclusion
In their book “Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life
of Boys”, Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson wrote that although all boys are
born loving and empathic, exposure to gender socialization (the tough male
ideal and hypermasculinity) limits their ability to function as emotionally
healthy adults. According to Kindlon and Thompson, boys lack the ability to
understand and express emotions productively because of the stress imposed by
masculine gender roles.
A couple of quotes from mature men:
"I don't think a man has to go around shouting and
play-acting to prove he is something. And a real man doesn’t go around putting
other guys down, trampling their feelings in the dirt, making out they're
nothing". Joe Frazier - Boxing champion.
A real man loves his wife and places his family as the most
important thing in life. Nothing has brought me more peace and content in life
than simply being a good husband and father. Frank Abagnale From the book: "Catch me if you Can"
The future of men, then, lies in enabling young men to break
the old stereotype of a MACHO MAN. Elders as Mentors are needed to contact
young men everywhere and share with them how we can jointly construct a fare
and happy future.
Reference:
Kindlon, Dan; Thompson, Michael (2000), "The road not taken:
turning boys away from their inner life", in Kindlon, Dan; Thompson,
Michael (eds.), Raising Cain: protecting the emotional life of boys, New York:
Ballantine Books, pp. 1–20, ISBN 9780345434852.
Read more at
https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/real-man-quotes
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