Masculinity-Brooke Roth

1.) Textbook term: Contradiction - refers to the tensions commonly present in one's communication, identity, relations with others and relations to the larger culture (DeFrancisco and Palczewski, pg 20). 

• What are some contradictory messages and expectations that males hear from our modern-day society? 

Most forms of media focus on traditional gender roles, which encourage men to be "manly" and "dominant".  This dominance has an influence on the character roles men play in television and movies as well.  More often than not, men play the super-heros, bread-winners, and big time CEOs.  These roles probably influence a lot of the male viewers' opinions on their personal levels of success based on these gendered stereotypes.

• Identify whether these occur on individual, interpersonal and/or societal level(s) of communication. Expand on this concept. 

I personally think they occur on all levels.  Clearly, if the media is portraying these roles, it is happening on a societal level, but a man's interpretation of these roles is done more on an individual and interpersonal level.  To say that men (or women for that matter) are not affected by media portrayals of gender roles is pretty naive, so I think all of the levels have an effect on one another. 

2.)  Feminist politics expanded to include the recognition that patriarchy stripped men of certain rights, imposing on them a sexist masculine identity (hooks, pg 68). 

• Identify what you feel are some of the rights that patriarchy takes away from men.

I don't know if I agree with the phrase "takes away from men", but I recognize that patriarchy does impose a masculine identity for men.  To me, this is a traditional gender role that many men naturally adhere to.  I do, on the other hand, recognize that not all men wish to follow this role, which would result in a conflict of their rights.

• Are there privileges that men receive simply because they are born male?

Yes, I'd agree with that statement, but I'd also add that females are born with privileges men don't have as well, so I think it's a give and take.  But yes, I do agree men are naturally born with privileges based solely on their gender.

3.) hooks writes about the "men's liberation movement" and the men who identified themselves as victims of sexism and worked to liberate men (hooks, pg. 69). 

• What do men need to be liberated from? What would a men's liberation movement look like?

Masculine gender roles seen in the media and societal expectations. It would probably be removing those biased stereotypes from the media and working to encourage broader thinking on a societal level. 

• What changes would we see? Have we already experienced some of these changes in our society? 

Same as what I talked about above. I think our society and media in general have become more open to more feminine roles for men in movies and television, but there's always room for improvement. 

• What might an alternative masculinity look like?

A man taking on more stereotypical feminine roles-stay at home dads, being a partner in a marriage where the woman has the dominant job, etc.