...What is gender? There really is no concise or definitive definition for it, since it will differ from person to person depending on who you ask. The dictionary and medical definition states it as being male or female. The sociology textbook definition refers to it as the physical, behavioral, and personality traits that a group considers to be normal, natural, right and good for its male and female members. Regardless of what view you take gender as, it ultimately leads to relations in the male and female category. One major subject of gender is gender roles, which basically means how males and females should speak, think, dress and act within the context of society and can be linked to gender stereotyping (also a topic of discussion). It is apparent in most if not all cultures, but the “role” itself varies from one culture to another. A major gateway for this is through the media. In the United States, children’s cartoons are a prime example. Of the plethora of cartoons available for discussion, four highly popular ones, current and old, will take priority: Dora the Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants, Rugrats, and the Scooby Doo series. First to be discussed is the extremely popular, Dora the Explorer. The show can be considered a global phenomenon being dubbed in over twenty different languages, so it has a large fan base amongst the varying cultures around the world. Now, on to the topic of gender in regards to the show, the show itself is not necessarily targeted solely towards...
Words: 1432 - Pages: 6
...Abstract: This study attempts to investigate the representation of masculinity in the printed advertisement of Mens Biore Double Scrub. All phenomena in the advertisement are described. To present more analytical description, the signs found in the advertisement are analyzed based on Barthes’ orders of signification. Besides that, this study also employs Kress and Van Leeuwen’s method of reading images and intertextual analysis in order to obtain more comprehensive analysis. The result of this study shows that Mens Biore Double Scrub advertisement represents two different concepts of masculinity. The first one is the traditional concept of masculinity. The second one is the new concept of masculinity offered by the advertisement. Generally, words that are used to represent both concepts of masculinity are power, confidence, aggressiveness, competition, challenge, and bravery. The connotative signified success, financial independence, and physical attractiveness are emphasized to change the concept of traditional masculinity to be in line with the company’s need. Keywords: advertisement, semiotics, masculinity Abstrak: Penelitian ini berupaya untuk menganalisa representasi maskulinitas dalam iklan cetak Mens Biore Double Scrub. Seluruh fenomena dalam iklan tersebut dideskripsikan. Untuk menyajikan deskripsi yang analitis, tanda-tanda yang ditemukan dalam iklan tersebut dianalisa berdasarkan gagasan orders of signification milik Barthes. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga menerapkan...
Words: 3643 - Pages: 15
...that utilize these behaviors that carry the symbolisms and meanings. In the article, cockfighting is the observed behavior and through it, a whole cultural identity is revealed. Cockfighting could very much be the physical manifestation of an otherwise subdued strain of culture which glorifies men and their masculinity in the Balinese society. The interaction of the men with their cocks highlights the cock as the physical object as the center of a dynamic display of symbolic interactionism. For example, as foreshadowed by the obvious double entendre, the cocks in Bali villages are masculine symbols. Moreover, its metaphorical uses run in the lines of “hero” and “tough guy”. The big event that is cockfighting shows the importance that the society places upon these masculine concepts. Therefore, the Balinese men show utmost reverence for their cocks not only because they are pried fighters, but also because of the symbolism it carries for them. This, in turn, reflects a core principle of the theory wherein behavior is based on the meaning given to the object receiving the behavior and action. With the object being the cocks and the symbolism being their masculinity and ego, there have been practices as frequent grooming, bathing and even hand-feeding of the animals that show a reflexivity where cocks are equal to men’s ego. Furthermore, the exclusion of women in this practice, for example, the avoidance of having women see the spurs or tadji, is indicative of the gender status...
Words: 641 - Pages: 3
...In today’s society, many people have come to accept the fact that women can do everything that man can do. It is now acceptable for women to be “manly” without losing their womanhood. The question is: if the image about women only being feminine has changed, how come men are still pressured to only be masculine? Are “macho” men the only “real” men? Does it take a strong jaw-line, defined and muscular abs, and a beer in one hand to be considered a “true” man? Today’s world has summed up men to be just that… In order to be considered real men, they can’t wear the color pink, drink diet soda, do housework, drink fruity-flavored alcoholic drinks, or be anything less than a sports-loving, scotch-drinking, gym-going, and woman-loving guy. In an ad about the new Dr. Pepper soda, “Dr. Pepper Ten”, the slogan that Dr. Pepper used was “IT’S NOT FOR WOMEN” in big, bold letters. This message implies that the drink is meant to be only for men. Underneath the slogan, the ad reads “A lady-free zone of rugged, macho, hair-on-your-chest awesomeness that’s definitely not for women.” In this ad, not only is Dr. Pepper discriminating women, but it is also raising the question that if a guy is not “rugged, macho”, and has “hair on his chest” then, could he not drink that soda? Would he fall in the same category as the women who can’t drink it, therefore not be considered a man? Dr. Pepper made it clear that this drink was for men even though the description of the “ideal man” that they would like...
Words: 931 - Pages: 4
...and lower levels of school engagement (that is, caring about school and doing homework).” This argument is informal http://www.families.com/blog/children-benefit-from-two-parent-families Then my next argument stated that “when single mothers are raising children without the father in the home children are being disciplined less.” Therefore I done some research and found that according to (Campbell, 1993) “Not only do fathers enforce gender norms more than mothers, they do so more strongly on boys than girls. For “most men…an effeminate son is far more worrying than a tomboy daughter. The father places heavy emphasis on the avoidance of feminine behaviors, rather than on the active encouragement of masculine ones.” Fathers’ own “masculinity” influences boys’ development in ways that are unclear at best.”166 Even though I have some evidence that proves my argument, this is still an informal fallacy because not all children of single mother behave in this manner. Campbell 1993, enforce-toddlers 20-21; Snow, Jacklin, and Maccoby 1983, dolls 229; Archer and Lloyd 1985, 213-2 This then led my into my leading argument which states that Child behavior is worst today than it was ten years ago, because mothers are having children at a younger age. It is true children are being born to young mothers today, because In 2012, there were...
Words: 478 - Pages: 2
...Discourse and gender Early work in the analysis of gender and discourse looked at the relationship between the use of language and the biological category of sex. Gender as a social category has come to be seen as highly fluid, or less well defined than in once appeared. In line with gender theory more generally, researchers interested in language and gender have focused increasingly on plurality and diversity among female and male language users, and on gender as performativity (something that is ‘done’ in context, rather than a fixed attribute). According to lakoff (1975) in her book language and women’s place, she proposed that what she called ‘ woman’s language’ is a use of language that is different from ‘men’s language’ or rather, what she termed’ neutral language’. This language included features such as the use of overly polite forms, the use of question tags, rising intonation in declaratives, the avoidance of expletives, a greater use of diminutives and euphemisms. An example of using particular items are “adorable, charming, and sweet” (woman’s language) versus “terrific, great, and cool (neutral language). According to mean’s (2001) she shows a similar example from the use of language with men’s and women’s football teams to’ do gender’ and to confirm masculine identity. She talks about sporting as a male category where values such as power and aggressiveness are highly valued. She found speed, loud talk and shouting to be ways in which these values were expressed...
Words: 362 - Pages: 2
...expressed in various ways through many cultures historically. The biological factors in sexual differentiation are very important to the human because it allows a person to grasp and understand the complexities and problems that are involved in human sexual conditions. The premature stages of sexual differentiation after birth are influenced by environmental factors. Once the child advance from childhood and into young adulthood the influences of biological, environmetal, and culture has an effect on sexual differentiation. According to Ault and Brzuzy (2009), gender identity is a multifaceted system of ideas surrounding masculinity and femininity, in terms of the roles prescribed to men and women by society, and how they relate to maleness and femaleness in relation to the self. Gender identity is presented through behavioral expressions of masculinity and femininity, feelings surrounding the body as a sexual, and individual perceptions regarding how others will respond to expressions of gender (Ault & Brzuzy, 2009). Gender refers to humans ability of awareness and reaction to biological that is determined by biological, psychological and sociological factors. Gender is a that refer to masculine for male and feminine for female. The human body contain hormones that are key to the body that secrete different...
Words: 302 - Pages: 2
...Fight Club is a story of the narrator’s struggle to gain control over his life. He is in search for an identity in the form of manhood. His masculinity is so repressed because of the absence of a father figure in his life. Because of this he creates Tyler, his alternate personality. Tyler is nothing like anyone the narrator has met, he is self assured and completely free. The narrators alternate personality Tyler Durden is the ultimate alpha-male. Tyler becomes the narrator’s hero and he envied him. After creating Tyler the narrator’s view on the world is adjusted. Tyler ends up changing the narrators life and has him doing things he never thought he would do. Both the narrator and Tyler bond over the fact that both their fathers were not major factors in their lives. The narrator says “ Me, I knew my dad for about six years, but I don’t remember anything”(50). Tyler goes to say that his father was distant and he would only speak to him once a year. Being raised mainly by woman, they both feel they never had a man around to teach them what being a man is. Tyler and the narrator and the generation of men they represent have been trying for years to regain their masculinity and at the same time find a sense of direction. At the support group for men with testicular cancer the narrator meets Bob. Bob later enters fight club and shows he is one of the better fighters that is there. He is seen as a “true man” for his physical abilities. Later on in the book Bob also joins Tyler’s...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
...Gender Differences in Perception of Masculinity in Men’s Crying I. INTRODUCTION Masculinity means being inexpressive and unemotional. Men are not expected to cry, to be sad or to be vulnerable (Forisha, 1978). According to the traditional stereotype being masculine means being assertive, being interested in things, rather than people, being analytical and manipulative, and being able to “get things done” (Forisha, 1978) Femininity and masculinity or one's gender identity refers to the degree to which persons see themselves as masculine given what it means to be a man or woman in society. (Burke, Stets and Pirog-Good 1988; Spence 1985) A person with a more masculine identity should act more masculine, that is, engage in behaviors whose meanings are more masculine such as behaving in a more dominant, competitive, and autonomous manner (Ashmore, Del Boca, and Wohlers 1986). Men are more likely than women to feel ashamed of crying. There are variations in degree, but this indicates that social norms restricting male crying may be pretty much universal. Male crying being generally discouraged from an early age, while female crying is accepted or even rewarded (Fox, 2004). Men cry less frequently and intensely than women, and this sex difference is especially marked for crying in response to anger. (Santiago-Menez & Campbelle, February, 2013) The history of men crying, men have always cried. Yet the acceptability of male crying has varied across...
Words: 3268 - Pages: 14
...Society places ideas concerning proper behaviors regarding gender roles. Over the years, I noticed that society's rules and expectations for men and women are very different. Men have standards and specific career goals that we must live up to according to how others judge. Career goals are based on predetermined ideas of gender roles. I have been more than qualified for many jobs, but have lost them to women who are less capable. Jobs such as retail often choose women over men due to a stereotypical idea that women are more affable than men. Members of this society must learn what the appropriate way for them to behave is and what to expect of themselves and others. Growing up, gender roles were set on me as I played with fire trucks and cars, and my sisters played with Barbie's. The types of movies we watched were different and the types of books we read were also different. It would be thought of as bizarre for me, a male, to cry during Titanic, or to read Cinderella. Going through my years in high school, I noticed that the guys who played sports got more attention than the ones who did not. We are expected to be athletic and good in many sports. Playing a musical instrument or acting was thought of as feminine and that idea made it difficult for many males to be involved in those activities. Being a man, I have to be strong and tough through many situations. We cannot show many of our feelings like woman do because we will be considered weak. When my great grandfather...
Words: 527 - Pages: 3
...Consider the concepts of morality in Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the light of the relationship between gender and power. Defend your answer. In Macbeth a very important theme is that of morality. This means the difference between good and bad. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as being the “bravest” soldier and for being an honorable thane. We see Macbeth as being a man with morals who fights for good reasons and in honor of the king of Scotland. However as the play implies, who is “fair is foul and foul is fair,” (Act 1, Scene 1) meaning that appearance can be differing from reality. Gender and power are two topics that are shown in detail in the drama of Macbeth. With regards to gender, throughout the play we encounter how man has to have no morals at all and how man should have no remorse on the actions they do. In fact Lady Macbeth tries to be unsexed from a woman to be as strong as men: “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood; Stop up the access and passage to remorse” (Act 1 Scene 5). Even though Macbeth never says it out loud, Macbeth in the beginning did care about his morality and about doing right and not wrong. In fact he wasn’t sure about killing Duncan but when Lady Macbeth questioned his manhood, he decided to be a man. However we then see that after Duncan’s murder the guilt kills his sleep and thus he realized in doing wrong...
Words: 543 - Pages: 3
...Routledge, 1997. Brodkin, Karen. “How Jews Became White”. White Privilege: Essential Readings on the Other Side of Racism. 3rd ed. Ed. Paula S. Rothenberg. New York: Macmillan, 2008: 35-48. Crane, Betsy and Crane-Seeber, Jesse. “The Four Boxes of Gendered Sexuality: Good Girl/Bad Girl and Tough Guy/Sweet Guy Sexual Lives: A Reader on the Theories and Realities of Human Sexualities. Eds. Robert Heasley and Betsy Crane. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003: 196-217. Crenshaw, Kimberle Williams. “Traffic at the Crossroads: Multiple Oppressions”. Sisterhood is Forever: The Women’s Anthology for A New Millenium. Ed. Robin Morgan. New York: Washington Square Press, 2003: 43-57. Enloe, Cynthia. “Nationalism and Masculinity”. Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000: 42-64. Enloe, Cynthia and Joni Seager. “Snapshot of America”. Interview with Sasha Lilley. Against the Grain. KPFA-FM, Berkeley. 27 July 2011. Foley, “Becoming Hispanic”. White Privilege: Essential...
Words: 1027 - Pages: 5
...An Essay on ”The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife” By Ernest Hemingway Seemingly, masculinity is a big part of men’s identity. Masculinity is usually associated with courage, independence, and assertiveness, and if a man’s pride is discriminated or somehow threatened, he will often do whatever is necessary to regain his pride. Thus, this might result in unethical behaviour. This is dealt with in Ernest Hemingway’s short story “The Doctor and the Doctor’s wife” from 1925 where masculinity is an overall theme and where he uses contrast and his iceberg technique to get his message across. Good intro (but remember to put two writing devices in) As stated, Hemingway illustrates the importance of masculinity for men’s identity in this short story. Firstly, Hemingway employs the importance of pride in male-to-male relationships by focusing on the interaction between the Doctor and the American Indian Dick Boulton. Secondly, Hemingway shows that a man’s pride comes above all, since the Doctor is dishonest to his wife regarding why he had a conflict with Boulton. Lastly, the use of contrast, e.g. the Doctor’s dishonesty as mentioned earlier, between the sexes empathize how masculinity is important to men, and this is what the following essay will be examining through the character of Nick’s father, the Doctor. In the beginning of the short story, the Doctor has hired three American Indians to cut some logs that broke free from a steamer and drifted on the beach. The three American...
Words: 1183 - Pages: 5
...Ashley Sanchez SOC325 Gender and Masculinities A. Lobo 7 February 2015 Journal Entry #2 In today’s reading masculinity was discussed and deciphered. To understand the ideals and beliefs connected to masculinity, Connell starts by explaining the history of the male gender. By first acknowledging that men were considered the bold hunters at the beginning of time, to then recognizing conventional middle class men as the breadwinners, hyper-male attributes that are attached to masculinity can be further understood. Thus, social roles play a significant part in motivating such stereotypes and concepts. Hegemonic masculinity, argued as the most common, also enables men to disregard their complexities and accept such expectations. This hegemony enables a division of labor, resulting in contrasting power relations between females and males. However, recognizing that femininity and masculinity are not just simple opposites further proves the notion that there is no pattern within masculinity. Connell provides extensive research and debates that offer evidence of men experiencing conflicting ideals and principles during their adulthood, as well as different cultures and their diverse ideals of masculinity. I particularly enjoyed the debates brought by the feminist theorists and the gay community. These critical comparisons enabled us to further comprehend masculinity concepts and flawed ideas, such as those brought forward by pop psychologists, who only offered simplified views...
Words: 305 - Pages: 2
...What comes to mind when you hear people say “women should be in the kitchen” or “men should be playing sports and being tough?” Do you agree with this statement? This leads to my extensive question, is gender more than biological differences between men and women? Good afternoon, my name is Marco Loproto and I’m here to enlighten on the issue within in today’s society, gender. Society depicts females and males of having different attributes but some may disagree with this. In many cases women are perusing their dream and participating in task that is perceived to be masculine, whilst males can be portrayed as obscuring their manhood. This is exemplified in the movie Bend it like Beckham and the novel regeneration. In society Gender roles are constantly changing; women are often made to feel inferior to males but it is through one’s talents that they are able to prove their superiority, which is evident in the film ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ directed by Gurinder Chadha. Thus supporting the statement gender is more than biological differences between men and women. Throughout the film, the protagonist Jess who is of Punjabi background is constantly challenging the gender stereotype. This is demonstrated in the extreme long shot which sets the scene for the movie. Within the film Jess consistently contemplates with her gender stereotype within the film. Chandha cleverly demonstrates this when Jess is playing soccer and she makes a run with the ball. The low angle shot, works to...
Words: 922 - Pages: 4
