01:920:216 Study Guide - Spring 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Feminism, White People, Masculinity
12 Oct 2018
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01:920:216
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
2/23/17: Mask Film
Key Message of the film?
• Hypermasculinity: about not showing emotions (i.e. sadness, emotional pain, affection,
caring, nurturing, intimate friendships (non-sexual), participating/expressing your
intelligence and academic participation), although certain emotions are acceptable (i.e.
anger).
What do we learn about masculinity?
• Hypermasculinity:
o Fighting
o Joking about being “fine”
o Heterosexuality
o Lots of women
o Apathy
o teasing/name calling
• Unacceptable
o Crying
o Nurturing
o Intimacy (non-sexual)
o Academic participation
Consequences of the norms of masculinity?
• Young boys often commit suicide at a higher rate than young girls
• Boys are subjected to physical bullying
• Peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol
• Insecurity
• Incarceration
• Damaged relationships
• School performance declining
How do we distinguish masculinity from just men in general?
2/27/17: Social Construction of Masculinity
Masculinities
• Hegemonic masculinity
o Form of power that's created through discourse (i.e. ways of believing and truths
we explain through talking), the most socially endorsed, definition of masculinity
o The “ideal” type of masculinity
o About men in power, of power, with power, physical power, economic power,
political power
o Most socially endorsed form of masculinity, about power (political, economic,
physical, social), typically represented by white upper class heterosexual man
▪ Prime example is James Bond
• Masculinities
• Adjectives for masculinity and binary conceptualizations...helpful?
o Some words for masculinity aren’t bad themselves
• Mythopoetic movement
o Iron John: a book about men by Robert Bly
• Overview of Findings Abby Ferber
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
o Page 30: sociologists who study changing definitions of masculinity and
femininity theorized that the rise of backlash movements (anti-feminist) are
reacting to gains in power by the groups that they oppose
o As women gain power, these changes occur and these movements occur
o Powerful? Male anxiety and fear of changing position of power in society
(backlash)
o Diverse social problems re-written as problem stemming from changing gender
expectations
o Demasculinization, feminism as social problems
o Re-validating male identity, but with a gender hierarchy
1. Essential masculinity
a. More biological
b. Men prevented from achieving hegemonic masculinity
c. Deep masculinity
d. Men and women as governed by nature (e.g. problems are natural)
• Essentialism as centerpiece
• Search for enduring, timeless ideas of masculinity
• Mythopoetic: rejects hegemonic masculinity that white supremacy embraces
2. (pg. 41) White men under attack
a. Using language of oppressed groups to achieve “equality” victimhood
b. Problems affecting boys (supports victims narrative)
c. Blame on women (minorities)
d. Rights taken away (equality feels like oppression)
e. Changing the rhetoric to fit the purpose of the movement
•
• Page 41: bottom of the totem pole by federal law
o Affirmative action framed as discrimination
o “Reverse racism”
• Encourage men to see themselves as victims
• Feminism as male-bashing. Women now in power
• Mythopoetic: power is arrogance. Men don’t have any real power
3. Demasculinization (men being more like women = causing problems)
a. Feminism as a problem
b. Takes away male power, male ability to protect women
c. Men denying essential nature= problem
• Social problems as a result of women’s movement and breakdown of gender roles
• De-masculinization
• Equality and basic biological natures
• Conspiracy
Proposed Solutions by two movements
• Zeus energy (male authority)
• Restore gender hierarchy and race hierarchy
• Look to the past: old order becomes the new order
Conclusion
• Two movements appeal to white men who feel they are blamed for gender and racial
inequality but themselves experience declining power/ class position
o Revalidating male identity
o Promoting idea of gender essentialism
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Key message of the film: hypermasculinity: about not showing emotions (i. e. sadness, emotional pain, affection, caring, nurturing, intimate friendships (non-sexual), participating/expressing your intelligence and academic participation), although certain emotions are acceptable (i. e. anger). Consequences of the norms of masculinity: young boys often commit suicide at a higher rate than young girls, boys are subjected to physical bullying, peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol, damaged relationships, school performance declining. Using language of oppressed groups to achieve equality victimhood. Changing the rhetoric to fit the purpose of the movement: page 41: bottom of the totem pole by federal law, affirmative action framed as discrimination. Reverse racism : encourage men to see themselves as victims, feminism as male-bashing. Women now in power: mythopoetic: power is arrogance. Demasculinization (men being more like women = causing problems) Takes away male power, male ability to protect women.
