...Roger Logan Professor Garvin English 1010 Paper #3 Comic Book Boys Peter Middleton’s essay “Boys Will Be Men” begins with simple anecdotes about the relationships between boys and men of different ages. Middleton then changes his focus towards comic books, where his focus remains all the way through the rest of the paper. Circling back to his original thoughts, the focus on comic books leads to an analysis of comic books in regards to children and their development into men. In his conclusion to the essay, Middleton states, “Nevertheless, action comics for boys are certainly damaging because they offer false solutions to the difficulties of growing up which both sexes face” (Middleton 141). Often Middleton points out that the reason that little boys read such comic books is that their true role models, their fathers, are not home. So in their absence, the children latch onto the traits found inherent in the superheroes they read about. However, the newly found role models, and superheroes, do not represent that which should be portrayed to our children. Throughout many comic book series there seems to always be portrayed a sense of masculinity gone wrong or hypermasculinity. Along with others, though primarily in the comic series of both Batman and of Spiderman, this specific form of masculinity being shown to the children is expressed through a relationship between the superhero, and the law. In the end, comic books become what is essentially a display case for the extremes...
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...especially during the early 20th century concerning boys. There are two people who have contributed abundantly to the theories of gender and where it stands, specifically during the 20th century. Judith Butler is an important figure in gender theory. In her essay “Gender Trouble,” there are many theories on what gender is and what has shaped gender as a social construct. Robert Baden-Powell was the creator and author of Scouting for Boys, a book about the Boy Scouts: how they should act, what they should do, and how they should react to certain situations that may come their way. Along with creating the Boy Scouts, Baden-Powell fought in Mafeking in South Africa for...
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...the Jim Crow Laws, which basically made it legal for whites to treat blacks with cruelty. In the short story “Battle Royal” by Ralph Ellison, there are many examples of the cruelties done to blacks by whites. Throughout the story, the white men hurt the protagonist and the other black boys emotionally, psychologically, and physically, and yet the protagonist still feels that blacks should follow the cruel and unjust laws for the good of society. In the beginning of the novel, the white men use a naked stripper to gain control of the protagonist and his group and hurt them psychologically and emotionally. As the African American literature critic Lee states, “ the stripper is a synthetic metaphor of white Mother America, Pocahontas, Martha Washington, the Scarlet Woman—white-fleshed, an object for rape and adoration, a pleasure-object--and yet for this “Nigger” a locus classicus of threat, a taboo, a castration” (Lee 23). This woman is a metaphor for how the government is also controlling the black people’s lives. The stripper is meant as pleasure for men, but for black men, it could mean serious trouble. If black men look at a naked white woman, they could be put in jail, beaten, or even killed in the most extreme cases. The black boys, including the protagonist are psychologically and emotionally distraught. The protagonist “wanted at one and the same time to run from the room, to sink through the floor, or go to her and cover he...
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...Many people think that a boy becomes a man when his facial hair starts to grow out, how much money he makes, and what he starts to wear. A man is not defined by his age or looks. Men can have all the money in the world or looks but that doesn’t necessarily make them a man. Men are not born but men are made and raised. Responsibilities, maturity, and respect for women turn a boy into a man. Many boys grow up fast to take they can take care of their families at a early age. Because of no father figure around boys usually end up the man of the household, and start working. Therefore age never determines when you become a man or not. Many 15 years old take many responsibilities while some don’t know the meaning of responsibilities. A man is responsible for keeping food in the fridge, paying the bills, keeping clothes on, etc. “Being a dad is the most manliest job you will ever have”(144) Many young boys today become dads at a very early age and most of them end up not taking the responsibility of their child. “Fathers have stopped passing down the art of manliness to the next generation”. Many fathers neglect their families and children and let them be on their own. This means not having a male figure around for the little boys. Boys look up to their fathers and want to see a good role model. They need a man figure in their lives to teach them how to be a man. How will a boy learn how to be a man if his own father is not around to teach him about manliness and responsibilities...
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...interesting discussion ensued that helped me to clarify my position on the question of men and boys development in society today. Because of its importance, I have unilaterally decided to publish the discussion – I won’t mention the names of the people who commented unless they give me their permission. Only the first letters of their names will be used. I said: Do you know wanjiru was only 24? A recent man, from a poor background and little exposure with a lot of money and fame in Nyahururu. No knowledge of how to handle both. I’m ruminating over what the focus on girl child empowerment and the related negligence on the boy has had an impact in our contemporary socialisation – especially young men. Case in point: was in Watamu at the school with a colleague who deals with Early Childhood Development. Girls were all called out and told to beware of boys and not to go after sugar daddies for cash. The boys were left in class peeping out of the windows. I went and spoke to the boys. Turned out 4 times a month the girls are taken out by someone to talk and they never do. Who’s investing in mentoring our boys? how do we get good men brought up? Does anyone see a problem? I’m disturbed Al. Then V (She’s a respected scholar and thinker) said: Yes. Al Kags. There is a horrible problem. The marginalisation of boys and men, of –maybe I am being paranoid, African boys and men. The constant denigration of their strength, abilities, prowess (wife beaters, chauvinists...
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...increased risk of death among the affected population and in particular among vulnerable groups. Women, girls, boys and men face different risks in relation to a deterioration in their nutritional status in emergency contexts. These different vulnerabilities are related both to their differing nutritional requirements and to socio-cultural factors related to gender. Good nutrition programming must take due account of gender issues at all stages of the project cycle — from participatory assessment and analysis through to surveillance, implementation of interventions, monitoring and evaluation. How do gender issues affect nutritional status? * In crisis situations where food is in short supply, women and girls are more likely to reduce their food intake as a coping strategy in favour of other household members. This can contribute to under-nutrition among women and girls. Breastfeeding Challenges in Transition and Emergency Contexts Following the October 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan, women frequently shared a shelter with distant male relatives and/or non-related men. The lack of privacy and support led many women to stop breastfeeding as they felt uncomfortable exposing their breasts in front of men. This emphasizes the urgent need for lactation corners in emergency settings to ensure continued breastfeeding. * Because of social traditions men and boys may be favoured and fed better than women and girls. * Women may face constraints in accessing humanitarian...
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...ONE BACKGROUND Male prostitution can be defined as the act or practice of men providing sexual services to other men in return for payment. Boys prostitution involves Boys who provides sex for cash often to older men who are well educated, successful and outwardly heterosexual and conservative who are not able to express their desire publicly [Rent, Kearins]. Over 75% older men who patronize boys prostitutes are married and kept their visits to the boys prostitute as secret [Rent; Kearins]. Many young men working as prostitute consider themselves heterosexual and not homosexual or bisexual. Ironically these boys like their clients they service perform homosexual acts but would never identify themselves as gay. Popular accounts indicate that coercion and trickery are typical paths to initial involvement of boys in male prostitution. Here, an older and successful man uses force or deception to compel or lure an innocent, often troubled boy into prostitution in exchange for money or favour (Lindecker,...
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...Lycurgas could have created these reforms with the motives of giving the young boys a strict life style to live by so that they could become great men for military purposes. One line in the story of the reforms talks about how they encouraged the boys to steal food, and if they were caught stealing food they were starved and severely punished by the elder Spartans. This reform to me shows that not only did these reforms encourage the young boys to be strong militants but they wanted to show them how to survive severe circumstances. The boys were treated with these reforms to help make them strong but live strict lifestyles. They wanted the boys to become strong and I think make them scared of nothing. One part of the story I noticed was that the older Spartan men would encourage fights to see with young boys were going to be strong and valiant in the times of battles and which boys would be cowards in dangerous situations. The boys were also not given much information on reading and writing, they learned just enough to be able to get them by. They wanted to raise these men to be fighters and they wanted to use treatment on them that would only encourage that. The positive outcomes of using this...
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...better chance at prosperity for the people. (Evans 102) According to Paul Wiseman from USA Today, the goal of the policy was to keep the Chinese population below 1.2 billion people through 2000. As it turned out, the policy has failed because the population today is 1.3 billion. It did however lower birthrates due to birth control, abortions, and early deaths of infants. Throughout the years, China began to have an imbalanced gender ratio. There is a significant amount of more males than females due to the one child policy. One of the main reasons why there are so many males over females is because males are more preferred than females. Boys are more preferred mainly because they are the ones who will carry on the family name and they are expected to take care of their parents financially in the future. According to China’s latest Census, 116.9 boys...
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...Throughout the injustices inflicted on the young men that were in the Scottsboro trial made a profound impact on American history, and marks a realization to many Americans during that time period. The Scottsboro Trials, are the greatest American tragedy, that still chokes up anyone who; hears, reads or watches how it unfolded in real life. These multiple unjust trials started on April 9, 1931, in Scottsboro, Alabama, when nine young African...
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...Moreover, it is a place that injects false interpretations of how boys are supposed to be in power. In the readings, the writers exposed the differences of female and male students are being treated in the classroom, in outdoor activities and professional studies to show how social factors affect the human race. In the article “Missing in Interaction” by Myra Sadker and David Sadker, both authors address how school plays a role in female students’ future decisions regarding the education or career choices. Girls are repeatedly being told...
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...that there is something wrong with him or her. It is important to remember that a person’s sex is different than a person’s gender. “Gender is learned. Gender is what people think about being boys or girls growing into men and women. These attitudes and behaviors are learned from society and the culture that people live in. Gender is not what we “are” but what we “do” ”. Society as a whole, teachers , and parents collectively and respectively “teach” gender roles in many different ways. There are many problems if children learn that boys and girls can do only certain things. Those children may not get a chance to use their talents. It is not fair for some children to be able to do things when others cannot. Everyone can help children to use all their talents. Society, teachers and parents can help girls learn to do active things and also quite things. They can teach boys to be gentle and also compete. Children do not need to worry about whether activities are “boy things” or “girl things. “Children who don’t worry about gender roles seem to feel better about themselves. They learn who they are more quickly than other children. They learn to be good at being children, not just being boys or girls.” 1. IMPACT OF WORD USAGE ON GIRLS AND BOYS The impact of feminine words such as passive, sympathetic, cautious, and intuitive all on girls by saying things like “ Let me show you how girls...
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...arts, in philosophy, and in science, math, literature and politics. How do we know about ancient Greece We know much about the Ancient Greeks from objects which have survived for thousands of years. Archaeologists have dug up Ancient Greek artifacts and buildings and marine archaeologists have found wrecks of Ancient Greek ships and their cargoes. Pottery has been the most useful find because it was often decorated with scenes of everyday life. We could work out what life was like by studying the pictures on the pots. The Romans liked the buildings, statues and paintings of the Ancient Greeks and copied them. Some of these have survived. Men Men had a much better life in Ancient Greece than women. Only men could be full citizens. Only men made the important decisions. Normally, only men fought in armies, took part in sports and met in public. Women Spartan women were taught reading and writing and skills to protect themselves in battle. They had more freedom than women and girls living in Athens. As well...
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...BULLYING BOYS: AN EXAMINATION OF HEGEMONIC MASCULINITY IN THE PLAYGROUND Dr L Trickett1 ABSTRACT Violence between young men, particularly resulting from the emergence of a so called ‘gun and knife culture’, is currently subject to extensive media coverage in UK2. Alongside this there has been increased anxiety about both the scale and impact of bullying in schools (Cawson et al, 2002; Tyler, 2002). These issues form part of a more generalised concern about men and boys in Britain often referred to as a ‘crisis of masculinity’ (see Clare, 2000). This article examines findings from research with male respondents about their relationship with hegemonic masculinity (Connell, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2005) and bullying whilst at school and makes suggestions as to what can be done to tackle abusive behaviour amongst boys and young men. 1 Dr Loretta Tricket is a Senior Lecturer and researcher with the Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University, UK. 2 See Lockhart, G; McClory, J and Qvortrup, M. (2007) Gun and Knife Crime in Great Britain, Policy Exchange, Research Note. Knife crime is a fact of life for teenagers (Bryony Gardon, telegraph.co.uk, 31 May 2008). 2 Introduction This article is in five parts. Part One outlines the theoretical background to the research. Part Two describes the methodology and the participants. Part Three discusses different types of bullying and the factors that were associated with them. Part Four discusses resistance...
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..."femininity", and this point is driven home in "Bros Before Hoes: The Guy Code." In this essay on the assumed 'appropriate' behavior of men, Michael Kimmel points out the stereotypes men are taught to believe make them more manly. According to his interviews with various men from all over the country, the male social facade was put upon them by fathers, grandfathers, coaches, older brothers and other significant male role models to young boys. This essay showcases the power of role models and the influence of society. It...
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