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Well Nick, I think that if you really feel that the construction of a male identity has no relevance for you, then I'm not sure I want to convince you otherwise. My instinct would be to say, "Good for you!".
But we are used to discussing the construction of gender stereotypes as an unavoidable influence on the individual. For instance, when thinking about images of femininity, the mainstream beauty image is often cited as a key element in the psychology behind anorexia. Hence, if we accept that argument, we are saying that a certain value structure can impact on the feelings and esteem of a woman. We don't usually think of this harmful value structure being a completely conscious act where female beauty is equated to "thinness".
I'm skimming the surface, I know, but we also have a range of behaviours associated with men. One of the most cited ones is men's supposed inability to cry. Lots of men will talk about this, and although it isn't a universal, it is sufficiently prevalent to warrant examination. One might suppose that it is "natural" for men not to cry. Something biological that inhibits this particular expression of emotion. Alternatively, one might suppose that men sit down, have a think and decide, on balance, to take on board steretypical male attributes. Lastly, one might say that for whatever historical, sociological reason, there is a male image presented to men. Moreover, this image has an influence on men on a level deeper than that of conscious choice.
Personally, although it is rather simplistic, I'd opt for a model based on the latter, although it is difficult to judge how much validity each of these explanations may have. The proper way to argue this is to make cultural comparisons to see how different societies have different ideas of masculinity and see how these effect men. Large scale differences would undermine the notion of a "natural" set of male characteristics, at least as an absolute. Someone should help me here, but I think the acceptance of transvestitism and transexuality in some societies might provide some evidence in this direction. There are probably lots more.
Rebutting the idea of conscious choice is harder, since in any case there must be a level of complicity in accepting a gender role. But I think there are quite a few psychological experiments that demonstrate our need to conform happens on a level that often overrides our more considered chioces. Again, anyone who actually knows about this would be welcome to set me straight. I would also note that if we accept this "conscious choice" model, then it does lead to a rather harsh, blame oriented outlook. Not that this really affects the veracity of it.
So, on balance, I feel that there are elements of gender construction that impinge on you, me and everybody, whether we like it or not. Now, I'm not denying free will. This isn't an absolute, moulding everyone into the perfect exemplar of their gender. But it is an influence. It may be that in a utopia, we could dispense with gender roles entirely. But while there is someone out there selling, I think that we can't help buying.
Where does that leave us? I think if accept the presence and effect of gender roles then, unless they are what we want, we should try to remould them into something better. Ignoring them won't make them go away. |
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