“Gender is a gender is a concept that humans create
socially, through their interactions with one
another and their environments” Amy Blackstone (2003, p.335)
Perspectives on gender roles include (Blackstone, 2003):
- Ecological Perspective – Individual people play a role in constructing gender roles, so too do the physical and social environments within which people operate
- Biological Perspective – suggests that women have a natural affinity toward the feminine gender role and that men have a natural affinity toward the masculine gender role. This does not suggest that one role holds any inherently greater value than another role
- Sociological perspective – suggests that masculine and feminine roles are learned and that gender roles are not necessarily connected to males’ and females’ biological traits.
The risk of increased aggression within males and over-nurturing in women is recognized in all societies and cultures; this also includes social inept attitude in males and social manipulation in women. There is the view that male and female traits are normally distributed along biological lines. Male are more aggressive and impulsive on average, and not as good as females at paying attention to other people’s needs. As in all normal distribution curves, there is a considerable amount of overlap and individual differences. However it is this notion of toxic hypermasculinity which has made it difficult for men to invoke emotional responses, become distant and exaggerate the qualities they believe to be masculine. Cultural differences in masculine and feminine types often mirror the idealized archetypes elevated as moral models in different societies.
The future video outlines how redefining masculinity — to figure out ways to be not just good men but good humans
Examples of new characters in the media. Terry Crew’s character is the physically and emotionally strong sergeant who enjoys yogurt, art and adores his daughters. He has no problems showing his vulnerability. Terry’s portrayal goes against every negative notion of masculinity that men have to be strong, independent, and tough without being allowed to show emotions:
References:
Blackstone, Amy. 2003. “Gender Roles and Society.” Pp 335-338 in Human Ecology: An Encyclopedia of Children, Families, Communities, and Environments, edited by Julia R. Miller, Richard M. Lerner, and Lawrence B. Schiamberg. Santa Barbara, CA.
YouTube. (2018). Why I’m done trying to be “man enough” | Justin Baldoni. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cetg4gu0oQQ [Accessed 18 Mar. 2018].
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