November 25, 2012
New or expecting Parents
Dear Parents:
Children at a young age learn from their surroundings, connecting gender to what they see. Traditionally it could be their father in the garage fixing the car and their mother in the kitchen preparing dinner. If a child's development consists of gender restricted rules or images their development will be dramatically different say that of a child surrounded by gender equal images. A child seeing their mother in the garage helping their father with fixing the car or seeing their father in the kitchen helping their mother prepare dinner, can have a dramatic change in a child's development. I believe a simple change from traditional gender roles to an equal gender role can benefit development in a child. traditional genders roles can lead to low self-esteem, depression and emotional disconnection while equal gender roles can lead to successful emotional connections, and better confidence in ones self.
traditionally, culture has men and women living by different roles and rules that are gender specific. Men go to work to provide for the family, work around the house and expect dinner on the table at six. Women stay home, clean, take care of the kids and have dinner ready by six. Children at a young age are constantly learning from what they see and hear, they connect what their parents do to how they should do things. Children raised by specific gender guidelines will develop those same rules in adulthood.
in a traditional house hold, young boys see their parents living by specific rules. these rules can be passed down for generations, from father to son, older brother to younger or even the media, and each one gives their ideals of masculinity. Author Micheal Kimmel in "Bros Before Hos" asks college men for their ideals of what it means to be a man, "never show your feelings, never ask for directions, never give up, never give in, be strong, be aggressive, show no fear, show no mercy...(609)" All of the answers he received describe a collection of attitudes and values that together describe what it means to be a man. these rules govern behavior and have a required criteria that help a boy or man to be seen as a tough, strong, traditional figure of masculinity.
Woman are not given a set of rules similar to men's, but they still develop a ideal image of what a woman needs to be in a traditional household. For young girls seeing their mother do specific gender oriented jobs creates a gender image. For example, my sister is almost thirty years old and believes that she needs a boyfriend to live a normal life. She refuses to
do any job that is oriented towards a masculine role, when asking her to help fix fence at the ranch she declines with answers that give her no confidence in herself. She was raised thinking that women cant do jobs that are masculine.
Being raised in a traditional home leads to a difference in adulthood development between genders and disorders. It can have effects on self esteem, disconnection from emotions, and depression. Woman tend to be less confident and dependent on others while men lack the ability to express emotions and or are disconnected from social interaction. Micheal Kimmel says "Boys are more prone to depression, suicidal behavior, and various forms of out-of-control or out-of-touch behaviors than girls are(616)." Its believed that boys suffer more from the traditional rules of the Guy Code(Kimmel) because the code leaves boys disconnected from emotions and prohibited from sharing any form of feelings they have with others.
Still working on more paragraghs, and trying to find new sources after a slight change on my topic.
(new paragragh idea) equal gender roles in a house. the father can go to work and cook dinner or the mother can go to work and still cook dinner....
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Annotated Bibliography
- Kimmel, Michael S. Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men. New York:
Harper, 2008. Print.
Micheal Kimmel discusses how in today's society men are expected to act and behave by rules. Kimmel spends time discussing the list of rules and values known as the "guy code" summarized by Robert Brannon, a social psychologist of the 1970s, he explains that this list must be fallowed in order to be seen as a man by society. Kimmel also mentions the "Gender Police," men and women who are always watching judging and waiting for a guy to mess up in being a man just so they can strip him of his of masculinity. The guy code may be intended to make a boy into a strong, emotionless and dependable man, bottling up emotions and trying to be seen as a man by other men and women can be tiresome. Kimmel discusses that all this pressure of trying to be a man can lead to depression, suicidal behavior, and various other forms of emotional disturbed orders.
- Meek,Will. "Male Gender Role." Psychology of Men. Web. Sat. 17 Nov. 2012
This website was created by Will Meek, a licenced psychologist currently head director of Counseling Services at Washington State University, Vancouver. Meek devoted this website to the study of men and masculinity, Meek says to understand masculinity you have to know what gender is, gender is defined as a set of characteristics or traits that are associated with a certain biological sex,male or female. Meek describes the male gender role as a set of attitudes and behaviors similar to the guy code. Researchers have described the rules of masculinity to be attitudes for a man to hold himself to, ways to look, ways to act and present oneself. The researchers argue that the rules are biological from birth and hard wired into a boys DNA, while others disagree and say that the rules are taught from a boy's surroundings and parents. Meek has come to the conclusion from his research that is a balance between Biological factors and and a boys surroundings.
-Lapp, Joan. "Boys to Men." Boys to Men Conference. Children Now: 1999. Web
Boys to Men talks about the media's role in identity formation among young boys. The media can broaden the images and messages that define masculinity in certain characters, reinforcing society's definition of masculinity as successful, violent and powerful. The media has summarized men as masculine icons; The Jock, The Strong Quiet Type, The Big Shot and as The Action Hero, all Strong manly men that boys want to be. At a young age boys are constantly surrounded by media showing them images of what men should be like.Interviews with boys between the ages of 8-12 talk about how they never see images of "affectionate" men or it was rare to see a male character play a sensitive part. Being surrounded by images of manly men that display emotional separations or violence, young boys believe that is how a real man should be.
Harper, 2008. Print.
Micheal Kimmel discusses how in today's society men are expected to act and behave by rules. Kimmel spends time discussing the list of rules and values known as the "guy code" summarized by Robert Brannon, a social psychologist of the 1970s, he explains that this list must be fallowed in order to be seen as a man by society. Kimmel also mentions the "Gender Police," men and women who are always watching judging and waiting for a guy to mess up in being a man just so they can strip him of his of masculinity. The guy code may be intended to make a boy into a strong, emotionless and dependable man, bottling up emotions and trying to be seen as a man by other men and women can be tiresome. Kimmel discusses that all this pressure of trying to be a man can lead to depression, suicidal behavior, and various other forms of emotional disturbed orders.
- Meek,Will. "Male Gender Role." Psychology of Men. Web. Sat. 17 Nov. 2012
This website was created by Will Meek, a licenced psychologist currently head director of Counseling Services at Washington State University, Vancouver. Meek devoted this website to the study of men and masculinity, Meek says to understand masculinity you have to know what gender is, gender is defined as a set of characteristics or traits that are associated with a certain biological sex,male or female. Meek describes the male gender role as a set of attitudes and behaviors similar to the guy code. Researchers have described the rules of masculinity to be attitudes for a man to hold himself to, ways to look, ways to act and present oneself. The researchers argue that the rules are biological from birth and hard wired into a boys DNA, while others disagree and say that the rules are taught from a boy's surroundings and parents. Meek has come to the conclusion from his research that is a balance between Biological factors and and a boys surroundings.
-Lapp, Joan. "Boys to Men." Boys to Men Conference. Children Now: 1999. Web
Boys to Men talks about the media's role in identity formation among young boys. The media can broaden the images and messages that define masculinity in certain characters, reinforcing society's definition of masculinity as successful, violent and powerful. The media has summarized men as masculine icons; The Jock, The Strong Quiet Type, The Big Shot and as The Action Hero, all Strong manly men that boys want to be. At a young age boys are constantly surrounded by media showing them images of what men should be like.Interviews with boys between the ages of 8-12 talk about how they never see images of "affectionate" men or it was rare to see a male character play a sensitive part. Being surrounded by images of manly men that display emotional separations or violence, young boys believe that is how a real man should be.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Proposal #2
Title: Braking the guy code
Author: I am a 19 year old boy, i grew up on a horse ranch working everyday with my father. Ever sense i could remember i was waking up early to help my dad around the ranch, may it be hanging hot-wire, digging post wholes, fixing fences, building chicken coups or just mowing the lawns. Growing up my father taught me what it takes to be a man, he never said "this is how a man does things." but everyday i learned from watching or doing, just like my father did from his father. I learned the rules of being a man from him and i was expected to fallow these rules. I never noticed until recently but i never did the same chores my sister, my sister helped my mother around the house cleaning or doing laundry. i grew up doing "mans work".
Date: Times are changing, from a time when being a man meant you had to fallow a strict list of rules, to now when its okay to not fallow the list of rules and show emotion.
Topic: Micheal Kimmel's "Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code" and its effects
Exigence: In Micheal Kimmel's "Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code" Kimmel explains the rules in being a man, how boys are taught these rules, the effects if one doesn't follow the rules he will be ridiculed and be striped of the tittle of MAN and then Kimmel discusses the psychological development and effects of the Guy Code. I agree with everything Kimmel says, i agree with the rules of the guy code i agree with what happens if a bot doesn't fallow those rules and the long term psychological development.
Intended Audience: college students and interested readers about the effects of the Guy code rules.
Purpose: To inform skeptical people of the effects that the strict rules the guy code are do effect every boy.
Ethos: I'm a 19 year old male, my father taught me what it means to be a man. I grew up trying to fallow the rules behind being a man, I personally know what happens if you don't fallow the rules set by the guy code.
Pathos: I have countless stories as a kid watching my father work and thinking to my self "when i grow up i want to be just like may dad", being just like my father would make me a real man. But out of all of these memories one is stuck in my mind, I was 13 and helping my dad put up wire horse fence. I would try my best to pull the fence tight against the posts, while my dad would nail it down. For my dad it only took him one swing with the hammer to hide the nail in the post, so long story short, my grip on the fence slipped causing my dad's hand holding the nail to move at the last moment in which his hand with the hammer smashed his fingers. I was terrified, expecting the wrath of god to rain down on my at that moment, but with his fingers turning black and purple right in front of my eyes all he did was gab another nail and ask me "do you think you can hold the fence this time?", he showed no emotion towards the pain or me for messing up. In my mind he was the toughest, strongest and more of a man i have ever seen or met at the time. I have seen my father break the guy code very few times and that makes me think he is even more of a man for doing that.
Author: I am a 19 year old boy, i grew up on a horse ranch working everyday with my father. Ever sense i could remember i was waking up early to help my dad around the ranch, may it be hanging hot-wire, digging post wholes, fixing fences, building chicken coups or just mowing the lawns. Growing up my father taught me what it takes to be a man, he never said "this is how a man does things." but everyday i learned from watching or doing, just like my father did from his father. I learned the rules of being a man from him and i was expected to fallow these rules. I never noticed until recently but i never did the same chores my sister, my sister helped my mother around the house cleaning or doing laundry. i grew up doing "mans work".
Date: Times are changing, from a time when being a man meant you had to fallow a strict list of rules, to now when its okay to not fallow the list of rules and show emotion.
Topic: Micheal Kimmel's "Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code" and its effects
Exigence: In Micheal Kimmel's "Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code" Kimmel explains the rules in being a man, how boys are taught these rules, the effects if one doesn't follow the rules he will be ridiculed and be striped of the tittle of MAN and then Kimmel discusses the psychological development and effects of the Guy Code. I agree with everything Kimmel says, i agree with the rules of the guy code i agree with what happens if a bot doesn't fallow those rules and the long term psychological development.
Intended Audience: college students and interested readers about the effects of the Guy code rules.
Purpose: To inform skeptical people of the effects that the strict rules the guy code are do effect every boy.
Ethos: I'm a 19 year old male, my father taught me what it means to be a man. I grew up trying to fallow the rules behind being a man, I personally know what happens if you don't fallow the rules set by the guy code.
Pathos: I have countless stories as a kid watching my father work and thinking to my self "when i grow up i want to be just like may dad", being just like my father would make me a real man. But out of all of these memories one is stuck in my mind, I was 13 and helping my dad put up wire horse fence. I would try my best to pull the fence tight against the posts, while my dad would nail it down. For my dad it only took him one swing with the hammer to hide the nail in the post, so long story short, my grip on the fence slipped causing my dad's hand holding the nail to move at the last moment in which his hand with the hammer smashed his fingers. I was terrified, expecting the wrath of god to rain down on my at that moment, but with his fingers turning black and purple right in front of my eyes all he did was gab another nail and ask me "do you think you can hold the fence this time?", he showed no emotion towards the pain or me for messing up. In my mind he was the toughest, strongest and more of a man i have ever seen or met at the time. I have seen my father break the guy code very few times and that makes me think he is even more of a man for doing that.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
RA# 3
Rhetorical Analysis # 3
Title: "Bros Before Hos":The Guy Code
Author: Michael Kimmel
Date: 2008
Topic: Author Michael Kimmel talks about the strict code that young boys have to live by, a code for masculinity, its a day by day check list on how to be a true man in the eyes of other men. Kimmel investigates the values, rites and expectations young boys have to live up to in today's society.
Analysis of Argument
Exigence: Kimmel explains that the "Guy Code" is a collection of rules, traits and values that make a boy seen as a man in today's society. The rules all add up onto a list that is used by almost all men in society to judge a man.
Intended Audience: Kimmel writes to inform the readers, may it be college students or everyday people reading the article in a paper or journal. The intended audience know less about the topic because of the facts and detail kimmel goes into explaining his points.
Purpose: I believe the purpose of this article is to engage the audience and to inform them about the strict rules society pushes on young boys.
Claims: "This is "The Guy Code," the collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together composes what it means to be a man(609)."
Main Evidence: To support his claim Kimmel uses information from college campuses and high schools asking young men what they think it means to be a man and the answers are, "Don't cry... never show your feelings, never ask for directions, never give up, never give in, be strong, be aggressive, show no fear, show no mercy, get rich, get even...(609)." Kimmel quotes social psychologist Robert Brannon for his summarizing of the four basic rules of masculinity, "No sissy stuff, Be a big wheel, be a sturdy oak, Give'em hell(610)." The four rules almost match exactly with the results Kimmel got from the colleges and high schools. KImmel then talks about how young boys learn these traits and how they are known by every male, "Guys hear the voices of the men in their lives-fathers, coaches, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, priests-to inform their ideas of masculinity(611)." Its the figures we all grew up with that we learn how to be a man from. Interviews from students in a Sociology of Masculinity class bring up the topic that " Other guys constantly watch how well we preform. Our peers are a kind of "gender police," (612)." The consent effort to walk, talk, eat, and every mannerism is to be seen as a true man.
Rhetorical Analysis:
Writer's Strategy 1: Description
Writer's Strategy 2: Exemplification
Writer's Strategy 3: Cause and Effect
Reader's Effect 1: Kimmel explains the rules of the guy code, he explains what the rules do to a young boy and how it effects how the boy is seen in society. The facts and details that Kimmel use are all true, me being a boy can really relate to the guy code.
Reader's Effect 2: Kimmel interviews students around the same age as me and the answer they give are the same i would of given. Every case or example used in this article the reader can relate to.
Reader's Effect 3: Kimmel explains how the guy code is influenced by fathers, grandfathers, coaches, and masculine figures in a young boys life, the figures form ideals of what it is to be a man. The effects of the guy code can cause a loss in emotions and separation disorders.
My Response:
I found "Bros Before Hos" to be a shockingly true article, everything Kimmel used i can relate to. I grew up with my father, the classic tough emotionless man teaching me how to be strong and self reliable, but i was never pushed to be a tough unemotional man. Just after years of looking up to my father as a hero i have tuned into him. When Kimmel talks about the "Gender Police" and how every man feels like they are being watched, and the moment they step over the line that defines malignity and femininity they will be striped of their tittle of being man is correct. Every man wants to be seen as tough, strong and dependable, but litter in life i hope the guy code isn't a clear defined line of rules.
Title: "Bros Before Hos":The Guy Code
Author: Michael Kimmel
Date: 2008
Topic: Author Michael Kimmel talks about the strict code that young boys have to live by, a code for masculinity, its a day by day check list on how to be a true man in the eyes of other men. Kimmel investigates the values, rites and expectations young boys have to live up to in today's society.
Analysis of Argument
Exigence: Kimmel explains that the "Guy Code" is a collection of rules, traits and values that make a boy seen as a man in today's society. The rules all add up onto a list that is used by almost all men in society to judge a man.
Intended Audience: Kimmel writes to inform the readers, may it be college students or everyday people reading the article in a paper or journal. The intended audience know less about the topic because of the facts and detail kimmel goes into explaining his points.
Purpose: I believe the purpose of this article is to engage the audience and to inform them about the strict rules society pushes on young boys.
Claims: "This is "The Guy Code," the collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together composes what it means to be a man(609)."
Main Evidence: To support his claim Kimmel uses information from college campuses and high schools asking young men what they think it means to be a man and the answers are, "Don't cry... never show your feelings, never ask for directions, never give up, never give in, be strong, be aggressive, show no fear, show no mercy, get rich, get even...(609)." Kimmel quotes social psychologist Robert Brannon for his summarizing of the four basic rules of masculinity, "No sissy stuff, Be a big wheel, be a sturdy oak, Give'em hell(610)." The four rules almost match exactly with the results Kimmel got from the colleges and high schools. KImmel then talks about how young boys learn these traits and how they are known by every male, "Guys hear the voices of the men in their lives-fathers, coaches, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, priests-to inform their ideas of masculinity(611)." Its the figures we all grew up with that we learn how to be a man from. Interviews from students in a Sociology of Masculinity class bring up the topic that " Other guys constantly watch how well we preform. Our peers are a kind of "gender police," (612)." The consent effort to walk, talk, eat, and every mannerism is to be seen as a true man.
Rhetorical Analysis:
Writer's Strategy 1: Description
Writer's Strategy 2: Exemplification
Writer's Strategy 3: Cause and Effect
Reader's Effect 1: Kimmel explains the rules of the guy code, he explains what the rules do to a young boy and how it effects how the boy is seen in society. The facts and details that Kimmel use are all true, me being a boy can really relate to the guy code.
Reader's Effect 2: Kimmel interviews students around the same age as me and the answer they give are the same i would of given. Every case or example used in this article the reader can relate to.
Reader's Effect 3: Kimmel explains how the guy code is influenced by fathers, grandfathers, coaches, and masculine figures in a young boys life, the figures form ideals of what it is to be a man. The effects of the guy code can cause a loss in emotions and separation disorders.
My Response:
I found "Bros Before Hos" to be a shockingly true article, everything Kimmel used i can relate to. I grew up with my father, the classic tough emotionless man teaching me how to be strong and self reliable, but i was never pushed to be a tough unemotional man. Just after years of looking up to my father as a hero i have tuned into him. When Kimmel talks about the "Gender Police" and how every man feels like they are being watched, and the moment they step over the line that defines malignity and femininity they will be striped of their tittle of being man is correct. Every man wants to be seen as tough, strong and dependable, but litter in life i hope the guy code isn't a clear defined line of rules.
Monday, October 29, 2012
RA #2
Title: The Death of Macho
Author: Reihan Salam
Date: 2009
Topic: The era of male dominance in the working and economic force is coming to an end, along with the effects of male unemployment and female employment.
Analysis of Argument
Exigence: Salam explains how the idea of macho is fading from today's society with high male unemployment. Salam believes there are two choices to be made, adaption or Resistance for the roles of males in today's new society.
Intended Audience: Anyone who may be involved in finance along with scholarly audiences, because of the reasoning and details in the text.
Purpose: To bring light onto how the ideals of males being the primary breadwinners in a family are changing, and Salam mentions the there will be a conflict for the position of power between males and females in the coming years.
Claims: "The era of male dominance is coming to an end... the world has been witnessing a quiet but monumental hit in power from men to women(629)."
Main Evidence: Author Reihan Salam claims that economic power and status is changing from men to woman, Salam uses many examples in his article. First of all Salam talks about the recession and its impact on men, "Unbelievably disproportionate impact that the current crisis is having on men...so much that the recession in now known to some economists as the "he-cession(630)." Salam is simply saying that men are reviving the main effects of job loss and economic hardship from the recession, Such as "80 percent of job losses in the United States since November have fallen on men(630)." Salam also predicts that "by the end of 2009, the global recession is expected to put as many as 28 million men out of work worldwide(630)." And things are to only get worse for men as the recession continues, but as man's status fail women's status gain power. The change in Traditional gender roles is another topic Salam brings up, "women were promised economic security in exchange for the state's entrenchment of male economic power(632)." meaning women are gaining more power in roles were men originally had power.
Rhetorical Analysis:
Writer's Strategy 1:(Ethos) The author uses facts and terms that help the reader understand the authors concerns and point of view, for example the male macho.
Writer's Strategy 2: (Logos)The author explains the role of men in society and then compares it to the role men have now after the recession and how women have changed from house wives to main breadwinners in today's families.
Writer's Strategy 3: (Pathos)The author uses vivid language, but connects to the reader very little on an emotional level.
Reader's Effect 1: The authors tone made the reader believe what the author was talking about and helped the reader see from the authors point of view his concerns. The authors resources and facts helped reinforce his ideas and credibility.
Reader's Effect 2: The authors us of Strong facts and clear information helped the reader understand the article, understand the authors logic behind his reasons and supporting evidence.
Reader's Effect 3: The author used very little Pathos to connect to the reader, but the article didn't need that connection to the reader. The facts along gave the reader a feel of confection.
My Response
This article talks about how the male macho is dying from today's standards of how the world works. I agree with the author Salam, i have noticed more women in power and i encourage the change. One thought i had while reading this was the author had no real opinions on what he was saying, he only gave facts and never encouraged the change or apposed the change. The author didn't use any emotional form of writing to show the reader his opinions.
Author: Reihan Salam
Date: 2009
Topic: The era of male dominance in the working and economic force is coming to an end, along with the effects of male unemployment and female employment.
Analysis of Argument
Exigence: Salam explains how the idea of macho is fading from today's society with high male unemployment. Salam believes there are two choices to be made, adaption or Resistance for the roles of males in today's new society.
Intended Audience: Anyone who may be involved in finance along with scholarly audiences, because of the reasoning and details in the text.
Purpose: To bring light onto how the ideals of males being the primary breadwinners in a family are changing, and Salam mentions the there will be a conflict for the position of power between males and females in the coming years.
Claims: "The era of male dominance is coming to an end... the world has been witnessing a quiet but monumental hit in power from men to women(629)."
Main Evidence: Author Reihan Salam claims that economic power and status is changing from men to woman, Salam uses many examples in his article. First of all Salam talks about the recession and its impact on men, "Unbelievably disproportionate impact that the current crisis is having on men...so much that the recession in now known to some economists as the "he-cession(630)." Salam is simply saying that men are reviving the main effects of job loss and economic hardship from the recession, Such as "80 percent of job losses in the United States since November have fallen on men(630)." Salam also predicts that "by the end of 2009, the global recession is expected to put as many as 28 million men out of work worldwide(630)." And things are to only get worse for men as the recession continues, but as man's status fail women's status gain power. The change in Traditional gender roles is another topic Salam brings up, "women were promised economic security in exchange for the state's entrenchment of male economic power(632)." meaning women are gaining more power in roles were men originally had power.
Rhetorical Analysis:
Writer's Strategy 1:(Ethos) The author uses facts and terms that help the reader understand the authors concerns and point of view, for example the male macho.
Writer's Strategy 2: (Logos)The author explains the role of men in society and then compares it to the role men have now after the recession and how women have changed from house wives to main breadwinners in today's families.
Writer's Strategy 3: (Pathos)The author uses vivid language, but connects to the reader very little on an emotional level.
Reader's Effect 1: The authors tone made the reader believe what the author was talking about and helped the reader see from the authors point of view his concerns. The authors resources and facts helped reinforce his ideas and credibility.
Reader's Effect 2: The authors us of Strong facts and clear information helped the reader understand the article, understand the authors logic behind his reasons and supporting evidence.
Reader's Effect 3: The author used very little Pathos to connect to the reader, but the article didn't need that connection to the reader. The facts along gave the reader a feel of confection.
My Response
This article talks about how the male macho is dying from today's standards of how the world works. I agree with the author Salam, i have noticed more women in power and i encourage the change. One thought i had while reading this was the author had no real opinions on what he was saying, he only gave facts and never encouraged the change or apposed the change. The author didn't use any emotional form of writing to show the reader his opinions.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
RR #2
"Bros Before Hos": The Guy Code" written by sociologist Micheal Kimmel, investigates the values, rites, and preoccupations of what it means to be a man. Kimmel focuses on young men between the ages of sixteen to twenty six, Kimmel starts off by asking the young men what they think it means to be a man, and the answers he gets are really predictable. Kimmel then goes into explaining the ideals of masculinity in America, the pressure that is put onto boys at a young age and the constant efforts it takes to maintain a manly front. The fear of being called "gay" along with the sense of homosexuality and homophobia is what drives many young men to do anything to prove they are toughed and a real man.
Kimmel has traveled to countless colleges and work shoppes around the country asking women what it means to be a woman and asking men what it means to be a man. The response that he got from men go as; donut cry, never show you feelings, take it like a man, and my personal favorite nice guys don't finish last. Kimmel states " all these aphorisms involves never showing emotions or admitting to weakness"(609). Not showing emotion or always being in control and all rules to being masculine. There has been four rules summarized by a social psychologist Robert Brannon in 1976, No sissy stuff, Be a success, Be reliable in a crisis, and Give'em Hell. There have been multiple studies on these four rules and very little has changed among successive generations of high school and college men.
Kimmel researches the history of the idea of masculinity in America, what he found was that men don't want to impress woman or have an inner drive but the want to be positively evaluated by other men. Other men want to be seen as a "manly man " not a woman's man, they want to be seen as a tough strong man not a feminine man. The development of these ideas as Kimmel point out are from "Other guys constantly watch how well we preform. Our peers are a kind of "gender police", always waiting for us to screw up.."(612). We stay on one side of the fence, the side that keeps us defined as a man defined as masculine. Its the fear of taking one step over the fence and having our manhood taken away its the fear of being labeled as faggot or a wuss. To not conform to the image portrayed by being a man could result in the lose of your manhood, you risk loosing everything and maybe even yourself.
The psychological development of being a man starts early, its a constant test. Boys learn at an early age that their connection to their mother will turn them into a mama's boy and in a result they start to suppress emotions and create distance with suppressing emotions. Even starting school teaches young boys to be tough Kimmel states the messages boys get "Stand on your own two feet! Don't cry! Don't be a sissy!" and Kimmel even quotes a nine-year old "I think it means acting tougher than you actually are"(616). Even at an early age the "boy code" effects young boys and how they are disconnected from emotions. Eventually that code turns into the "guy code" and as they grow older they feel disconnected.
Kimmel's approach to how being a man is a naturally influenced decision and not a biological influence is something i strongly agree with. No boy is born as a distant unemotional child, but he is taught to act how a man acts. When i was young my father taught me to deal with my problems on my own. I have one major memory growing up,i was about the age of seven and i was crying about something and the only thing my father said to me was how crying doesn't solve my problems only doing something about it does. To this day what he said sticks with me and as i get older i see how i am more like him everyday, i don't talk about my emotions and i confront my problems and most of all i haven't cried since that day my father talked to me. Part of this is because i fear i wont be seen as a man in the eyes of my peers, its a constant though going through the back of my mind " is this manly?" But times are changing slowly.
Kimmel has traveled to countless colleges and work shoppes around the country asking women what it means to be a woman and asking men what it means to be a man. The response that he got from men go as; donut cry, never show you feelings, take it like a man, and my personal favorite nice guys don't finish last. Kimmel states " all these aphorisms involves never showing emotions or admitting to weakness"(609). Not showing emotion or always being in control and all rules to being masculine. There has been four rules summarized by a social psychologist Robert Brannon in 1976, No sissy stuff, Be a success, Be reliable in a crisis, and Give'em Hell. There have been multiple studies on these four rules and very little has changed among successive generations of high school and college men.
Kimmel researches the history of the idea of masculinity in America, what he found was that men don't want to impress woman or have an inner drive but the want to be positively evaluated by other men. Other men want to be seen as a "manly man " not a woman's man, they want to be seen as a tough strong man not a feminine man. The development of these ideas as Kimmel point out are from "Other guys constantly watch how well we preform. Our peers are a kind of "gender police", always waiting for us to screw up.."(612). We stay on one side of the fence, the side that keeps us defined as a man defined as masculine. Its the fear of taking one step over the fence and having our manhood taken away its the fear of being labeled as faggot or a wuss. To not conform to the image portrayed by being a man could result in the lose of your manhood, you risk loosing everything and maybe even yourself.
The psychological development of being a man starts early, its a constant test. Boys learn at an early age that their connection to their mother will turn them into a mama's boy and in a result they start to suppress emotions and create distance with suppressing emotions. Even starting school teaches young boys to be tough Kimmel states the messages boys get "Stand on your own two feet! Don't cry! Don't be a sissy!" and Kimmel even quotes a nine-year old "I think it means acting tougher than you actually are"(616). Even at an early age the "boy code" effects young boys and how they are disconnected from emotions. Eventually that code turns into the "guy code" and as they grow older they feel disconnected.
Kimmel's approach to how being a man is a naturally influenced decision and not a biological influence is something i strongly agree with. No boy is born as a distant unemotional child, but he is taught to act how a man acts. When i was young my father taught me to deal with my problems on my own. I have one major memory growing up,i was about the age of seven and i was crying about something and the only thing my father said to me was how crying doesn't solve my problems only doing something about it does. To this day what he said sticks with me and as i get older i see how i am more like him everyday, i don't talk about my emotions and i confront my problems and most of all i haven't cried since that day my father talked to me. Part of this is because i fear i wont be seen as a man in the eyes of my peers, its a constant though going through the back of my mind " is this manly?" But times are changing slowly.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Final Draft Prop. 30
Proposition 30’s Crisis
Times have changed;
California's education is failing along with the state budget and now is the
time for us as voters to change it. In 2011 the state budget was $25 billion in
debt when Gov. Brown started. Over the past year, just trying to balance out the
billions of dollars of debt the lawmakers have drastically reduced spending in
health, community development, public safety and most importantly education. Even
with these drastic cuts the budget remains out of balance and will stay in debt
unless something changes. Gov. Brown has proposed a solution, Proposition 30; I
believe will work to restore California’s financial budget crisis and
Educational system.
Proposition
30 if passed is estimated to raise $6-9 billion in new revenue each year for
public education and public safety. Prop. 30 would raise income taxes 1-3% for
seven years on the wealthiest families, the most "blessed", making
over $500,000 a year. Sales taxes would be raised by quarter of a cent for the
next four years, 90% of prop. 30's revenue will be used to fund public
education and safety. Prop. 30's revenue will help fund K-12 schools,
preventing a three week cut of school. 11% of the revenue will go towards
community colleges. $5.6 billion in funding that can be used for healthcare,
and high education is freed up, and a prevention of dramatic cuts to CSUs of
$250 million of class cuts, layoffs and enrollment cuts are prevented. The
estimated new revenue gives students the opportunity to attend class and be
able to go to school giving them the chance to obtain the American dream.
Schools in
California have already faced budget cuts that changed how students view
school. California schools cannot risk the loss of anymore money. Without Prop. 30 the schools and colleges face an additional $6 billion
in devastating cuts this year. Prop. 30 is the only advantage schools have left
that prevents those cuts and at the same time provides billions of new funding
for the schools starting this year. If Proposition 30 is rejected
according to San Bernardino Sun “…then nearly $6 billion will be cut
from the budgets of the state's public schools and universities. The results
will be catastrophic: Teachers across the state will be laid off; admissions at
state colleges and universities will be cut; tuition at California State
Universities will go up by $150 a semester; k-12 students will have their
school years cut by more than a week, and the state's slowly recovering economy
could be thrown into a tailspin ". And that's just in the first year. With the billions of dollars’ of cuts even
more classes, layoff of faculty, staff and enrollment cuts will be enforced. Law enforcement, fire departments and public
safety funding will take a sustainable reduction. The cuts will continue until the
economy significantly improves or the state finds a very large gold pot at the
end of a rainbow.
However in the end
its go to work and pay up or no education and watch California’s budget crisis
drag it into darkness. As a student I pay for my classes, and in return I have
to work to be able to go to school. I am a 19 year old college student and this
is my second year at Cabrillo. Even if my first year I had trouble getting into
the classes I wanted, I was on the wait-list for all of my classes but one.
This semester I had a small list of classes to choose from still. The class
sizes, the cutting of programs and classes have affected me dramatically. The
more classes that get cut means the price of the other classes go up along with
the book prices, which in return means I have to work more hours taking away my
time to be in school. Not to mention the increase of students trying to get
into a class with limited seats. I have had to stand in the back of class rooms
listening to lectures while others stand outside the door all because of the
increasing cuts. I have seen teachers turn students away at the door due to oversized
classes. Originally I only had to spend three years at college to obtain the
units I need for my career, now after class cuts, an increase of hours at work
to pay for school and not being able to get into a class those three years have
turned out to be closer to four or five.
Everyone has an "American dream" may
it be to be rich and powerful or to be a school teacher. My dream is to be able
to have a family and to be able to provide whatever they need, the classic
white picket fence. This is achieved through hard work, dedication and a strong
educational background. But with the current educational crisis I fear for the
future of the American dream. Everyone deserves and needs an opportunity for a
strong education and without the chance for proposition 30 to restore the state’s
budget I fear that the American dream will almost be impossible to obtain, but
with the help of proposition 30 there is a chance for America's education and
the American dream.
In this time of
economic disaster proposition 30 gives the state the chance to help relieve the
damage from budget cuts and to restore some of the education, public safety,
and community services. Prop. 30 give California the opportunity to change its
future. However there are some groups that are against prop. 30. According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel say that
proposition 30 is not needed because “it's unlikely that all the trigger cuts
will happen as threatened. The evidence for this comes from previous trigger
cuts that were threatened but never materialized as deeply as threatened”. So
maybe all the trigger cuts won’t go into effect, but even a $2 billion cut in school
funding would be devastating to the schools and the economy. That cut would
further cripple the economic growth. Another major point brought to the table
is that the raising off taxes will destroy family businesses and small businesses,
but according to the department of finance, the revenue from this proposition
represents just over half of what was lost when three other taxes expired in
2010 and 2011. The overall tax burden will still be lower than it was two years
ago. In the Bakersfield Californian an article points out that, “contrary to the governor's claims, Proposition 30 does not
create new revenue for schools; it merely restores some of what's already been
cut”. Meaning the $5.6 billion in funding that is saved for healthcare,
and high education is not new money for the schools to do whatever with, all
the money would do is replace what is missing in union costs for teachers and
their pensions, still some money is better than none.
In this economic
time of disaster education is facing devastating cuts if proposition 30 isn't
passed, more cuts to California's already poorly funded system means less
classes, smaller class sizes, less availability and not to mention higher class
prices for students. Proposition 30 gives the state a chance to help relieve
the budget cuts and to restore some of the education, public safety, and
community services in California. Proposition 30 sets the stage for the
restoration of California's budget crisis. Proposition 30 is no substitute for
long-term reforms, but it is a measured and functional response to this crisis.
Vote yes on
proposition 30.
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