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Essay / Social Construction and Performance of Hegemonic Masculinity in Michael Kimmel's Guyland
This novel by Michael Kimmel, Guyland, deals solely with the life experiences of men between the ages of approximately 16 and 25 years old. A handful of these young men were interviewed to see how they are handling the great transition to manhood. The transition to manhood can be difficult, and it's probably the most important thing that can happen in a young boy's life, and that's why Kimmel wrote this book, to try to open a psychologically encouraging world for them to understand the reason behind the difficulty. of a young boy growing into adulthood and how he can adapt to the changes and problems that come with it in a positive, non-harmful way. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay For as long as man has inhabited the earth, men have always had to secure their masculinity and prove that they are in fact a “man.” . You see it in your everyday life, young boys are taught that crying is weak and that showing emotions is reserved for girls. This ideology of what a man should be has led young children astray for centuries. Kimmel believes young boys are told that frequent fornication, video games and sports are the most popular things men should do. Young men are taught that doing everything a man is supposed to do will help them “fit in” and that “fitting in” is a top priority. Another top priority of young men is to always be okay, never appear soft or hide something that affects them, all they have to live as if the world does not affect you because you are a " man ". Kimmel doesn't always downplay women, but in many of his works they are mentioned several times, but only for comparison to their male counterparts. It tries to compare and contrast the way men and women think. Women are much better than men when it comes to adults, but certain stereotypes of women have led them to also have something to prove...societal equality. It's still an unwritten rule that men are supposed to be better than women at everything, and women have had a daily battle against men being dominant and having to prove that they can be better. Stereotypes have forced women to not be superior while men stand on top and rule over women. “Women have moved from cheerleaders and occasional spectators to active participants and even commentators. » They started a “revolution”, women participated in sports activities and got rid of the stereotype that “man goes to work and women stay at home”. Women today, in today's society, are employed and often earn more than men. Unfortunately, there are cases where men try to prove their dominance by acting violently, which results in rape, and sometimes even death. Some men view women who respect themselves and try to maintain their independence as "sluts", but these are the same women who are praised for conforming and shaping themselves to meet men's expectations. The women of Guyland try so hard to make their equality relevant in society that they must always follow the men's rules or be cast out by them if they don't. Women are undergoing their own transformation completely different from that of men, a transformation that must reprimand them for who they are,.