Post 2 - BZ

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? 

               Like many of my classmates, I'd agree that strong contradicting notions exist in the behavioral conditioning for society's "masculine ideals".  Overwhelming influence from the media and societal interaction create standards and expectations for the actions and even thoughts of men.  Some of these standards include dominance/respect within relationships (both platonic and romantic), confidence/humility, sexual orientation, and appearance.  Double standards and contradictions in such contexts, and many others, are not always obvious to the majority.    

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

               I'd conclude, in similarity with the theme of communication, that theses contradictions occur on each level of communication, continually.  Given that we're inherently interpreting, applying, and defining our own and others' identity, and therein the facet of masculinity, I'd think we're constantly experiencing contradictions related to one of the three contexts. 

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 necessarily agree with hooks' statement.  I can't really envision many examples of explicit rights taken away from males under a patriarchal society.  However, there are questionable issues that come with a patriarchal view and the imposition of a strict definition of masculinity.  One important example is the social pressure for a male to have sex at an early age, which can have a large impact on the way he defines a relationship.  

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

               I believe so.  I think in our western "civilized" society, we've learned to disguise the way we undermine and discriminate against females, yet it persists.  For the most part, equality has been reached in a legal sense.  However labels of power, success, aggression, discipline, and intelligence are conditioned to be inherent with males.  In many places around the world the economic, social, and personal rights of men and women are far from balanced. 

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 imagine the liberation of men refers to the elimination of the imposition of a societal "masculine identity", and the redefinition of what it means to be masculine in a more positive way within that element of feminism.  I think it would resemble the feminist movement, representing the raising of the individual's consciousness in respect to issues concerning men.  

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

               It would be hard to say, but I imaging we'd start to see a shift in the behavior of men in younger generations, and a reshaping of definitions concerning masculinity.  I think we have experienced some of these changes.  

• What might an alternative masculinity look like?

               I think it would be more fluid and dynamic.  Involving contradictions of power-distance in relationships, aggression, sentimentality, and catering to specific situations; much like the way I would describe many of my friends and I.