Male Gender Roles And Women - 2367 Words

In society today, boys and girls are taught by those around them that there are but two ways only to live a life- the manly way and the feminine way- and that to stray from one’s designated role in the world is unacceptable. Men in particular suffer from the confinement of gender roles and are exposed pitilessly to society’s punishing repercussions if one chooses to defy his preordained position. I myself have felt the pungent sting of the male gender role in my own life, having grown up alongside a twin brother who was about as â€Å"manly† as a boy can be. I can recall one day only a few years ago when I, thrilled and eager, was sitting down to watch my newly-purchased copy of the 25th Anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera- my absolute†¦show more content†¦That was simply who I was. It took time and much self-examination to eventually accept that there was nothing wrong with me. I was not inferior to or less of a man than any other male in the world- merely a victim to a long line of harmful misunderstandings of the male gender. Society has set a precedent of aggression, barbarity, and dominance for men to follow to be perceived as â€Å"normal†, effecting youth negatively and damaging one’s self-image. Men are influenced strongly everyday by the world around them to put aside traditionally feminine tendencies and behave like a man- beginning, first and foremost, in the home. The household serves as a boy’s initial introduction to the exclusive sector that is manhood. It is there that they are brought up and reared to be the strapping, virile man they are destined to become. It is rare to find a boy who is not at least familiar with the phrase â€Å"Wipe some dirt on it,† teaching them to â€Å"[employ] the automatic â€Å"I’m fine† response to almost any emotional difficulty† (Glazer 7) and fooling family members into thinking they are valiantly tough warriors, dismissing any po ssibility of help or protection. It is understood that boys run around and play in mud and scrape their knees while girls sit inside and play with dolls- any sign of the opposite being quickly ended by parents. Boys are also turned away from calling their mother and father â€Å"mommy† and â€Å"daddy† far sooner than