Sarah Wees Blog #2

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?

I think some of the main stereotypes in today's society are that men are seen as a more dominant partner in a heterosexual relationship or that they are supposed to be the bread winners for their family. They are seen as the stronger and less emotional of the partners. It is more uncommon that you will see a male crying during a movie or singing their child to sleep. I think based on these stereotypes most men have fallen into the "norm" of the stereotypes as much as possible. 

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

On an individual level, I think there is less portrayal of these stereotypes just because each individual is different and has a different personality of their own whether they are male or female. I think that on a societal level men try to fit these stereotypes in hopes of being seen as dominant or maybe more desirable to someone they are trying to attract. I also think men do not want to seem "incapable" to their peers or friends so they try to come off more dominant and less sympathetic to certain issues in their lives. 

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 think some of the rights that have been taken away from men are the ones that allow them to express themselves fully. I think some men will keep certain feelings inside that might be seen as "sensitive" or "girly". I personally feel that anybody, man or woman, should be able to express themselves without worrying about being judged.

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

I do think men receive certain privileges for being born male such as their wife taking their last name. But I also think women receive privileges for being born female as well. For example, in the third grade when we would line up for lunch, our teacher always let the girls line up first, teaching the boys that there was a "ladies first" rule. It was like that every single day for the entire year for lunch, until the very last day he let the boys line up first, just that once.  

• 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?

I think men should be liberated from all of the stereotypes put on them by society. I think they would experience less pressure and could feel more free to do the things they wanted and express themselves the way they wanted as well without being held accountable for "acting against the norm". 

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

I think we have already seen some changes in society. For example, women have jobs that men would stereotypically have and they have been given the opportunity to make just as much if not more money than men in the work place. 

• • What might an alternative masculinity look like?

I think we see it today as we see more male nurses or more stay at home fathers. They are more men that have taken on occupations and roles that are typically seen taken on by a female. 

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