Wednesday, 17 October 2018

OUGD601 - The Stigma of Masculinity by Aqualus M Gordon

The Stigma of Masculinity
Can men still be manly without feeling ashamed?
In this 2014 article by Aqualus M Gordon, there is a comparison made between how masculinity once was and how it is today. When asking male participants to say what the manliest thing about them was, many gave responses that showed they were not afraid to expose a traditionally stigmatised "feminine side". Some of the responses include "my heart", "my ability to show emotion" and "my venerability". This goes to show that over time the traditional expectations of masculinity and its traits are beginning to change in a more accepting society. Gordon goes on to then say, 'just a few decades ago, a man’s admission of sympathy or compassion was more likely to be met with ridicule and social disapproval' and suggests that the traditionally masculine traits could often be disregarded. This includes traits such as competitiveness, protectiveness, assertiveness and confidence, which if disregarded would mean a definitive change in the nature of masculinity.

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