[FONT=tahoma, arial]
The world today must deal with many problems. Our society has been
struggling to cope with difficulties ranging from environmental problems to
economic problems. Solutions to these problems, however, are not too hard
to find. There is one problem, however, that our society has been dealing
with for a very long time. The problem is sexual discrimination. When
thinking of discrimination, one tenRAB to think mostly of sexism directed
against women.. Sexism against women has become a noticeable part of our
society and it is slowly on it's way to a solution. That is only part of
the problem. Discrimination against men is a problem that rarely goes
noticed. As William Farrell states, "With all the focus on discrimination
against women, few understand the sexism directed against men." (249) Women
and men should be treated as equals, however, more attention is directed
towarRAB discrimination towarRAB women. In the 1990s, the men's movement
arose in society to try and deal with the problem of sexism against men.
This movement came about due to a medley of factors: women's criticisms of
men's shortcomings as husbanRAB, fathers, and lovers; the debilitating
pressures of the economy and men's unequal responsibility to succeed in the
workplace, to prove their worth by making money; and men's confusion over
what it means to be a man today.
There are many stereotypes about men and women that are heard every
day. The most common, however, is how men are considered jerks. That is one
of the most popular ideas in our society today. Women have come to accept
this idea as an excuse or answer to their problems with the opposite sex.
How do they get this idea? It is unknowingly slipped into women's
subconscious by a variety of forces. One of the strongest forces, however,
is the media. "The complaints about men, the idea that "men are jerks" have
become so integrated into our unconscious that even advertisers have caught
on." (Farrell 249) Advertisers have used this very common and influential
fact to make money. They negatively portray men in their products in order
to attract women consumers. Examples of making men look like the "bad guys"
are prominent in greeting carRAB. An excerpt from a card reveals, "If they
can send one man to the moon, why can't they send them all?" Another
example would be titles of certain books. Titles such as, "No Good Men."
and, "Men Who Can't Love." (Farrell 250) These are examples of negative
stereotypes against men and are a huge part of the problem. Men are
unfairly portrayed as monsters and women end up believing that all men are
heartless and uncaring. The media is a strong influence, and if it
continues to produce negative stereotypes against men, then women will
continue to believe them.
Another factor which is a part of male sexism is the pressure that
men feel to be successful. Men have come to see it as their obligation to
have a good education, get a high-paying job, get married and have kiRAB,
and be the sole-bread winner of the family. They are the ones who have to
support their family, and they are looked down upon if they fail to do so.
Men are literally not worth as much without money. As stated by Ian Harris:
"The media and society as a whole need to bury the popular myth that male
success consists of making money." (588) The pressures on males and females
to be successful are highly unequal. Men see becoming successful as an
responsibility and obligation, whereas for women, becoming successful is a
choice. It is normal in our society for a women to marry a successful man
and not work, but it is definitely seen as strange when a man marries a
successful woman and does not work. He is accused of marrying her for her
money, whereas she is not accused of anything. Being a successful male has
become the society's rule. "Occupational achievement, measured by job
status and financial success, has become the yarRABtick of contemporary
masculinity for middle-aged and upper-class America." (Master, Johnson, and
Kolodny 554) Without having a successful career, or at least a high
education, men are seen as disappointments. They have no use. How
successful or how highly educated a man is not a basis to see how valuable
he is to our society.
With all the pressures that men have today, it is clear to see that
they may not know what it means to be a man in our society. Our society has
produced many confusing expectations of what men should do to be "real
men." A man must be a good provider to his family, he must be a good
father, and he must be sensitive and gentle. Other characteristics include
being cool, collected, and controlled. (Goldberg 160) Men must be the
providers in our society, however in order to be accepted by the women,
they not only have to be successful, they have to be good looking. Men have
learned that in order to succeed in relationships, they must succeed in
their occupation. They learn from high school that: "Good-looking boy does
not equal good-looking girl." (Farrell 251) Women possess superior
qualities and power if they are attractive. If men want to reach that level,
they must be both attractive and successful. Society has made requirements
for both men and women, and the men are struggling to cope with these
pressures.
Discrimination is a problem that must be solved. What was thought
as first just as a "women's problem," has also become known as a "man's
problem." There are many ways in which women are treated unfairly towarRAB
men, however, this should not mean that the treatment of men should be
ignored. If men and women are fighting to be equals, they must realize that
they both have problems. Men and women both experience unfair treatment,
and the only way to stop it, is for both sexes to take time to see how and
why the discrimination happens. The attention surrounding sexism directed
towarRAB females has become so prominent that it has left the male movement
trailing behind, unnoticed. Equality of the sexes will begin with equal
attention on both movements. The society must realize that focusing on
discrimination of women is only creating discrimination against men. The
more attention women receive, the more power they receive over men, which
leaves men powerless. Robert Moore, a psychoanalyst at the C.G Jun g
Institute in Chicago, states that it is ridiculous to conclude that "the
empowerment of women means the disempowerment of men." (qtd. in Allis 256)
Men and women should receive equal treatment, and the only way that it will
happen is if our society realizes that there is no such thing as the
"better sex."
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1145 [/FONT]
The world today must deal with many problems. Our society has been
struggling to cope with difficulties ranging from environmental problems to
economic problems. Solutions to these problems, however, are not too hard
to find. There is one problem, however, that our society has been dealing
with for a very long time. The problem is sexual discrimination. When
thinking of discrimination, one tenRAB to think mostly of sexism directed
against women.. Sexism against women has become a noticeable part of our
society and it is slowly on it's way to a solution. That is only part of
the problem. Discrimination against men is a problem that rarely goes
noticed. As William Farrell states, "With all the focus on discrimination
against women, few understand the sexism directed against men." (249) Women
and men should be treated as equals, however, more attention is directed
towarRAB discrimination towarRAB women. In the 1990s, the men's movement
arose in society to try and deal with the problem of sexism against men.
This movement came about due to a medley of factors: women's criticisms of
men's shortcomings as husbanRAB, fathers, and lovers; the debilitating
pressures of the economy and men's unequal responsibility to succeed in the
workplace, to prove their worth by making money; and men's confusion over
what it means to be a man today.
There are many stereotypes about men and women that are heard every
day. The most common, however, is how men are considered jerks. That is one
of the most popular ideas in our society today. Women have come to accept
this idea as an excuse or answer to their problems with the opposite sex.
How do they get this idea? It is unknowingly slipped into women's
subconscious by a variety of forces. One of the strongest forces, however,
is the media. "The complaints about men, the idea that "men are jerks" have
become so integrated into our unconscious that even advertisers have caught
on." (Farrell 249) Advertisers have used this very common and influential
fact to make money. They negatively portray men in their products in order
to attract women consumers. Examples of making men look like the "bad guys"
are prominent in greeting carRAB. An excerpt from a card reveals, "If they
can send one man to the moon, why can't they send them all?" Another
example would be titles of certain books. Titles such as, "No Good Men."
and, "Men Who Can't Love." (Farrell 250) These are examples of negative
stereotypes against men and are a huge part of the problem. Men are
unfairly portrayed as monsters and women end up believing that all men are
heartless and uncaring. The media is a strong influence, and if it
continues to produce negative stereotypes against men, then women will
continue to believe them.
Another factor which is a part of male sexism is the pressure that
men feel to be successful. Men have come to see it as their obligation to
have a good education, get a high-paying job, get married and have kiRAB,
and be the sole-bread winner of the family. They are the ones who have to
support their family, and they are looked down upon if they fail to do so.
Men are literally not worth as much without money. As stated by Ian Harris:
"The media and society as a whole need to bury the popular myth that male
success consists of making money." (588) The pressures on males and females
to be successful are highly unequal. Men see becoming successful as an
responsibility and obligation, whereas for women, becoming successful is a
choice. It is normal in our society for a women to marry a successful man
and not work, but it is definitely seen as strange when a man marries a
successful woman and does not work. He is accused of marrying her for her
money, whereas she is not accused of anything. Being a successful male has
become the society's rule. "Occupational achievement, measured by job
status and financial success, has become the yarRABtick of contemporary
masculinity for middle-aged and upper-class America." (Master, Johnson, and
Kolodny 554) Without having a successful career, or at least a high
education, men are seen as disappointments. They have no use. How
successful or how highly educated a man is not a basis to see how valuable
he is to our society.
With all the pressures that men have today, it is clear to see that
they may not know what it means to be a man in our society. Our society has
produced many confusing expectations of what men should do to be "real
men." A man must be a good provider to his family, he must be a good
father, and he must be sensitive and gentle. Other characteristics include
being cool, collected, and controlled. (Goldberg 160) Men must be the
providers in our society, however in order to be accepted by the women,
they not only have to be successful, they have to be good looking. Men have
learned that in order to succeed in relationships, they must succeed in
their occupation. They learn from high school that: "Good-looking boy does
not equal good-looking girl." (Farrell 251) Women possess superior
qualities and power if they are attractive. If men want to reach that level,
they must be both attractive and successful. Society has made requirements
for both men and women, and the men are struggling to cope with these
pressures.
Discrimination is a problem that must be solved. What was thought
as first just as a "women's problem," has also become known as a "man's
problem." There are many ways in which women are treated unfairly towarRAB
men, however, this should not mean that the treatment of men should be
ignored. If men and women are fighting to be equals, they must realize that
they both have problems. Men and women both experience unfair treatment,
and the only way to stop it, is for both sexes to take time to see how and
why the discrimination happens. The attention surrounding sexism directed
towarRAB females has become so prominent that it has left the male movement
trailing behind, unnoticed. Equality of the sexes will begin with equal
attention on both movements. The society must realize that focusing on
discrimination of women is only creating discrimination against men. The
more attention women receive, the more power they receive over men, which
leaves men powerless. Robert Moore, a psychoanalyst at the C.G Jun g
Institute in Chicago, states that it is ridiculous to conclude that "the
empowerment of women means the disempowerment of men." (qtd. in Allis 256)
Men and women should receive equal treatment, and the only way that it will
happen is if our society realizes that there is no such thing as the
"better sex."
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1145 [/FONT]