The Male Crisis WTUC Cross-Cultural Communications

WIFE VS. HUSBAND A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" "Yep," the wife replied , "in-laws"

A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" "Yep," the wife replied , "in-laws"

From http://www.manormale.com/manormalecd.htm

Countermovement Men’s movement is relatively new social movement in the U.S. Countermovement to the women’s movement http://images.inmagine.com/img/uppercutrf/ucsi014/ucsi014070.jpg

Men’s movement is relatively new social movement in the U.S.

Countermovement to the women’s movement

Things that you should know  * Societal forces that have catalyzed the movement * Psychological reasons why the movement gained strength * Various types of the movement * Objectives of the men who work together as brothers in the movement

 * Societal forces that have catalyzed the movement * Psychological reasons why the movement gained strength * Various types of the movement * Objectives of the men who work together as brothers in the movement

Women’s movement caused men and women to rethink their roles i. Men react in both positive and negative ways to the new expectations they must meet at home and work. some men are pleased that their wives/girlfriends work New roles and expectations cause men stress, anger and confusion. men wonders how they should treat women some feel that they are no longer the king of the castle Men’s movement began to help men support each in this time of change i. Change- professional advances and personal freedom of women

Women’s movement caused men and women to rethink their roles i. Men react in both positive and negative ways to the new expectations they must meet at home and work.

some men are pleased that their wives/girlfriends work

New roles and expectations cause men stress, anger and confusion.

men wonders how they should treat women

some feel that they are no longer the king of the castle

Men’s movement began to help men support each in this time of change i. Change- professional advances and personal freedom of women

From http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/aex/lowres/aexn96l.jpg

Two views According to author Susan Faludi (Backlash: The undeclared war against American women), men’s movement is a backlash against the women’s movement i. Some men feel that women are becoming too independent and powerful ii. A similar backlash in Rome (1900 years ago), Women gained freedom (of riding in horse-drawn chariots and from wearing multicolored dresses). 195 B.C., Roman Emperor Cato expressed his fear that women had become so powerful. iii. 7-year survey of American male attitudes in the 1980s found that no more than 5-10% of the men surveyed support women’s demands for dependence and equality (still has not changed today)

According to author Susan Faludi (Backlash: The undeclared war against American women), men’s movement is a backlash against the women’s movement

i. Some men feel that women are becoming too independent and powerful

ii. A similar backlash in Rome (1900 years ago), Women gained freedom (of riding in horse-drawn chariots and from wearing multicolored dresses). 195 B.C., Roman Emperor Cato expressed his fear that women had become so powerful.

iii. 7-year survey of American male attitudes in the 1980s found that no more than 5-10% of the men surveyed support women’s demands for dependence and equality (still has not changed today)

B. The men’s movement as a brotherhood of psychological support for men Example: father’s rights in divorce cases. Women should not be given automatic custody of children Confusing images of men in contemporary media 1. sensitive guy like Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie) 2. involved family man like Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire) 3. loving father like Steve Martin (Parenthood) 4. macho man like Arnold Schwarzenegger (The terminator) 5. caring nurturer in Kindergarten Cop http://www.tolerance.org/images/dynamic_assets/images_150w/torg_male_150x160.gif

B. The men’s movement as a brotherhood of psychological support for men

Example: father’s rights in divorce cases. Women should not be given automatic custody of children

Confusing images of men in contemporary media 1. sensitive guy like Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie) 2. involved family man like Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire) 3. loving father like Steve Martin (Parenthood) 4. macho man like Arnold Schwarzenegger (The terminator) 5. caring nurturer in Kindergarten Cop

Brief Historical Overview Late 19th century- men were focused on expansion (conquering the West and other lands), Cut down trees, and move elsewhere if things didn’t work out where he was Industrialization and the great migration from farm to city- changed men’s relation to their work By 1910, less than 1/3 were self-employed, Manhood was vanishing as men worked in factories. Cities represented female’s domestication efforts The Boy Scouts were founded in 1911- men worried that boys spend too much time around women and Teddy Roosevelt’s hypermasculinity campaign- Rough Riders look. It’s not what Rough riders represent, but the anxiety about what men were, or ought to be

Late 19th century- men were focused on expansion (conquering the West and other lands), Cut down trees, and move elsewhere if things didn’t work out where he was

Industrialization and the great migration from farm to city- changed men’s relation to their work

By 1910, less than 1/3 were self-employed, Manhood was vanishing as men worked in factories. Cities represented female’s domestication efforts

The Boy Scouts were founded in 1911- men worried that boys spend too much time around women and Teddy Roosevelt’s hypermasculinity campaign- Rough Riders look. It’s not what Rough riders represent, but the anxiety about what men were, or ought to be

Con’t 5. World War 1 represented another crisis for the male image. Nearly half of the male recruits did not qualify for military service 6. 19th and 20th centuries, male were having trouble meeting male demands 7. Political democracy and immigration reduced the idea of American manhood 8. 1950s- men were turned into robotized organization men in gray flannel suits

5. World War 1 represented another crisis for the male image. Nearly half of the male recruits did not qualify for military service

6. 19th and 20th centuries, male were having trouble meeting male demands

7. Political democracy and immigration reduced the idea of American manhood

8. 1950s- men were turned into robotized organization men in gray flannel suits

A. Changes caused by the industrial revolution during the early to mid-1900s (according to poet Robert Bly- founding father of the movement) Kind of work men did changed 1. Before the civil war, 88% (of American men) were small farmers, small business owners. Men worked near their homes. Sons were learning from their fathers 2. By 1910, less than 1/3 of all men were self-employed Men no longer saw the product of their labor. 1. Sociologist Michael Kimmel argues that manhood is threatened because men no longer worked their land

A. Changes caused by the industrial revolution during the early to mid-1900s (according to poet Robert Bly- founding father of the movement)

Kind of work men did changed 1. Before the civil war, 88% (of American men) were small farmers, small business owners. Men worked near their homes. Sons were learning from their fathers 2. By 1910, less than 1/3 of all men were self-employed

Men no longer saw the product of their labor. 1. Sociologist Michael Kimmel argues that manhood is threatened because men no longer worked their land

2. Men became factory workers during the post-industrial revolution iii. Men worked away from home and spent less time with their sons iv. Young men lacked role models. v. Now, men are concerned that they have little say in the upbringing of their children (how different is this from Taiwanese families?) B. Effect of the women’s movement on the men’s movement i. Men play active roles in child care and housework (women work outside the home) ii. Men are entering occupations held by women i.e. teachers of young children, nurses iii. Men have female colleagues whose communication and management styles differ from men’s iv. Men started to read Robert Bly’s Iron John

2. Men became factory workers during the post-industrial revolution iii. Men worked away from home and spent less time with their sons iv. Young men lacked role models. v. Now, men are concerned that they have little say in the upbringing of their children (how different is this from Taiwanese families?)

B. Effect of the women’s movement on the men’s movement i. Men play active roles in child care and housework (women work outside the home) ii. Men are entering occupations held by women i.e. teachers of young children, nurses iii. Men have female colleagues whose communication and management styles differ from men’s iv. Men started to read Robert Bly’s Iron John

3 reasons for the men’s movement 3 reasons for the men’s movement i. Men’s changing roles brought about the women’s movement ii. The industrial revolution iii. Men’s desire to affirm the concept of manhood

3 reasons for the men’s movement i. Men’s changing roles brought about the women’s movement ii. The industrial revolution iii. Men’s desire to affirm the concept of manhood

What do women think of the men’s movement? A. Many feminists do not like the men’s movement- a way from keeping women achieve equality, advocating women’s return their housewife/motherly roles B. Wives of men who often participate are pleased- men are learning to express their emotions and getting support from other men

A. Many feminists do not like the men’s movement- a way from keeping women achieve equality, advocating women’s return their housewife/motherly roles B. Wives of men who often participate are pleased- men are learning to express their emotions and getting support from other men

Consequences Men start to look back to past male-warrior ideology and stories when men were men Gender roles were renegotiated Notion of fatherhood changed Both sexes worried about what was happening to men

Men start to look back to past male-warrior ideology and stories when men were men

Gender roles were renegotiated

Notion of fatherhood changed

Both sexes worried about what was happening to men

Fact When we look back at history, the definition of manhood has always been in a flux. Each historical period, each society and group interprets the (raw) materials of existence in its own way. Like all human constructs (i.e. language, food, clothing) gender systems can change.

When we look back at history, the definition of manhood has always been in a flux. Each historical period, each society and group interprets the (raw) materials of existence in its own way. Like all human constructs (i.e. language, food, clothing) gender systems can change.

The Silent Treatment A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day,he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM " He left it where he knew she would find it.The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AMand he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go andsee why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper bythe bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up." Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day,he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM " He left it where he knew she would find it.The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AMand he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go andsee why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper bythe bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up." Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.