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?
• Modern day society is FULL of contradictions regarding who we are supposed to be and how we are supposed to act. For men, I think the contradictions are more outrageous than they are for women. As we saw in Sarah's media illustration with the toy commercials, boys are taught from their childhood that they should be tough, crafty, and independent. However, these "ideal" characteristics quickly become undesirable when, all of a sudden, a man is expected to be intimate, tender, and loving.
• Identify whether these occur on individual, interpersonal and/or societal level(s) of communication. Expand on this concept.
• I definitely see this happening on every level of communication. Individually, I believe than many men struggle with how to identify themselves as "a man." I can only say this as a guess, however, as I've never been able to think like a man. The interpersonal and societal levels are easily seen. In intimate relationships between men and women, the man is generally presumed to be the strong, masculine half of the relationship. Society easily plays up this stereotype. Woah, wait a minute. Check out this little gem I just found via google. I googled "masculinity" just for kicks and giggles, and found this lovely little image. Talk about stereotypes...

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 had never thought of patriarchy as ever taking away rights from men. However, now that I think about it, I suppose that patriarchy could take a way a man's right NOT to be the breadwinner of the family.
• Are there privileges that men receive simply because they are born male?
• I certainly think there are. However, I think that I also enjoy certain privileges just because I'm a woman. I can't say I've ever been jealous of something that a man was "privileged" to have or felt as if it was my right to have the same thing. I do thin it's true that men have it easier in the business world, but as a woman I feel as though I have it easier in other ways.

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?
• This question is making my head spin in all sorts of ways. I've never even thought of men as needing to be liberated from anything. I suppose now that I think about it, there are things that come to mind. I think men should be liberated from the pressure they feel to prove themselves as "strong" men. What I mean is... what do we associate with strong men? So often the "men" that other men look up to are the ones who can jump around from woman to woman, proving his manhood.
• What changes would we see? Have we already experienced some of these changes in our society?
• I think there would be a whole heck of a lot more happiness in the world if sexual conquests weren't considered to be something to look up to.
• What might an alternative masculinity look like?
• I envision alternative masculinity to look like men not putting up a false front of "strength" but standing tall amidst fears that they don't have to be afraid to admit.