Gheni Platenburg Ph.D.
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What Does it Mean to be Masculine?

11/16/2015

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Last Thursday in class, I showed my students the documentary “Tough Guise.” The film examines the relationship between media images and the social construction of masculinity.
 
Here’s an excerpt of the film's description:
 
“Whether he's looking at bullying and school shootings or gay bashing, sexual assault, and violence against women, Katz makes a powerful case that male violence, misogyny, and homophobia are inextricably linked to how we define manhood as a culture. The film gives special attention to how American media have glamorized increasingly regressive and violence masculine ideals in the face of mounting social and economic threats to traditional white male heterosexual authority.”


Gender, like race, is a social construct. Simply explained, there is no biological definition of gender. Gender is created by societal determinations constructed to define characteristics belonging to males and females. This imposition of gender begins at birth. When we are born, doctors determine our sex based on our visible genitalia. Based on whether we have a penis or a vagina, we are soon swaddled in a warm pink or blue blanket.

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Source:http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/newborn-baby-s-receiving-blanket-combed-cotton-and-coral-fleece-pack-blankets-baby-set-high-quality/1212763_1827567036.html



Females receive pink, and males receive blue. Thus, begins the performance of gender. These gender performances continue throughout our lives, as we negotiate playing with dolls or balls, dating rituals, or even deciding between on a career. 


Thursday’s class module on sexuality in the media came right on time. The night before, I caught an episode of American Dad. It was the episode when Stan questions his son Steve’s masculinity after Steve fails to live up to his father’s expectations during a fight. As a result, Steve partners with Roger, the family’s alien, to win back his dad’s approval by becoming a superhero crime fighter.
 
 
It wasn’t until Steve actually fulfilled the typical masculine roles of bravery and courage when he saved a baby and some family pets from danger that Stan reaccepts applauds his son’s efforts and ultimately reaccepts him.
 The episode’s portrayals caught my eye and served as a good happenstance entry to today’s class discussion. 


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Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl95AkugDiY

Following the film, we had an interesting discussion of what defines masculinity and how it is portrayed in the media.
 
We discussed the topic of the women facing charges of alleged sexual assault for twerking on a random guy at a gas station and the video of the man who alleges he was raped as his friends laugh and discount his admittance of being a victim of a serious crime. 

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Sources:http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/police-arrest-woman-wanted-forcibly-twerking-man-article-1.2431793

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IDATT4g6GA


Audience reaction to both of these stories proved interesting. They shined light on men reacting in what society would typically deem as a less than masculine way. It should be every man’s dream to be touched and groped by scantily clad women, right? At least that is the narrative constructed by dominating masculine stereotypes in society.

A similar question could be asked of the alleged rape victim. Why would a man be mad a woman threw herself at him for sex?  This, too, goes against the dominating masculine stereotype.
 
Would the reaction have been different in both of the situations if the roles were reversed?
More than likely, yes!  Gender performance typically becomes problematic when it goes against the grain of societal norms.
 
In class, the conversation grew even more interesting once we applied the question of masculinity to dating. 
The students offered up some widely varying answers including physically strong; leader of the household; powerful; a take-charge attitude; good morals; confident; level-headed; and someone who only cries during serious situations like death.
 
 This brings me to the question of today’s blog. If you date men, what masculine roles do you look for them to embody?  How else does society characterize society? 







If you would like some additional reading on gender, check out these materials:
Jost & Hamilton, “Stereotypes in our Culture”
 
Lorber, “The Social Construction of Gender”
 
West, C. and Zimmerman, D. (1987). “Doing Gender.” Gender and Society, 1(2): 125-151.
 
Connell, “The Social Organization of Masculinity”
 
http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/social-construction-sex-77099
 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-07/target-removes-gender-labels-from-kids-sections-after-complaints
 
VIDEO: The Codes of Gender







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Image Sources:http://feministing.com/2015/03/19/remembering-why-redefining-masculinity-is-important/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vb4yd3Ljxg
​
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Dating After 30-Are We Doing This Or Not? 

11/9/2015

1 Comment

 
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​ As I scrolled through social media this morning, I came across the above meme.

 It was one of those viral memes that gets shared and altered among the masses.

You don't know who created it (Sorry, I'm not sure to whom I should attribute credit) or even why they created it.

All you know is it resonates with you and is probably applicable to some aspect of your life.

In my case, the reason is I am 30 and single. ***Inserts dark, scary music**

To clarify, I am dating someone exclusively, but I’m not married.

So, technically, I’m still single.

According to society, that’s a scary situation.

I regularly come across articles addressing the issue.


http://www.jconline.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/10/13/new-jim-crow-marriage-black-women/17217909/

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2015/04/09-race-assortative-mating-inequality-reeves

http://hellobeautiful.com/2015/04/24/why-black-women-are-single/

http://www.essence.com/2014/04/03/why-it-so-hard-black-women-find-love-they-deserve
 
http://verysmartbrothas.com/the-10-real-reasons-why-so-many-black-women-are-so-damn-single/

http://www.thematchmakingduo.com/the-9-biggest-complaints-from-single-black-women/

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/single-black-females/story?id=9395275



 I’ve even covered the subject myself.

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/mar/13/gp_livingsingle_031411_121216/


To summarize, the perception is times are tough in the love department for single, black women. 


​





​




​For those of us who are actively dating somebody or several somebodies, the pressure from friends, family and society can sometimes be intense to “put a ring on it.” 
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For some women, this pressure causes them to remain in relationships and situations (because some people have never made things “official” and have opted to just “talk” for years on end)  out of fear of resuming their search among the hypothetical plenty of fish in the sea. 
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For others who are in good relationships with glimmers of future promise, the pressure can be too much to bear.

​It can cause rifts where there previously were none and impede the natural, relaxed progression of love then marriage.
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Like the meme says, though, “[we] got shit to do.”

We women are busy and don’t have time to waste on someone who does not share our relationship goals.

 However, based on my experiences and the experiences of many other women, it seems some men don’t share that same aversion to wasted time. 
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Some treat conversations of committing to dating monogamously or even marriage like a nightmare!

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Nonetheless, it is important to have conversations with the person you are dating to make sure you both are on the same page.
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After all, we women are busy and have things to do (work; school; buy a house; get our nails done; give birth).  
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Time is a precious commodity.
​
Let’s not waste it on people and things that don’t meet our wants and needs.

Disclaimer: By no means am I a relationship guru or advice columnist.  I’m just someone who likes discussing the news of the day and what is happening in the lives of myself and others.
 
I’d love to hear your input! Guys are welcome! 








GIF Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2lCXLZlurs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAaPBxBxaV8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AQ-_c8LdM0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfaiwjyHy9M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr4flKD35c8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muoOd_urAPU
www.picslist.com


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Is 40 Acres and a Mule a Proper Apology?

11/8/2015

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This semester, I am teaching a course on multiculturalism in the media.

As part of the course, I have assigned a number of readings  related to multiculturalism.

This past week, my students read Ann Coulter’s, “Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama.” 

 The book explores what Coulter describes as the misuse of race in politics in the decades after the Civil Rights Movement. 

She assigns a large part of the blame to the “fact-resistant media.”

Regardless of political and racial ideology, I recommend people read the book, if for no other reason than to educate yourself on alternative points-of-view.

In my class of diverse students, the book definitely prompted a lively conversation.

 During the discussion, a student asked whether a formal apology to blacks was necessary for the country to move on from past and ongoing racial strife. If so, who should issue that apology and what should it  entail?

Students offered an assortment of answers, with some interested in  reparations and mostly all coming to the consensus that President Barack Obama could not be the one to issue the apology. 

The question was so intriguing I later asked a friend about it.

He wasn’t sure how to answer it.

Personally, I think an apology is warranted, but it should come in the form of action rather than just empty words.

 I think there have been plenty of steps already made toward this elusive “apology,” but there is certainly a lot more to be done.

I thought I would pose the same question here for my readers.

Is a formal apology necessary for the country to move past racial tensions? If so, who should issue the apology and what should it entail?

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Book cover retrieved from Amazon.com
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    30-year-old freelance journalist, Ph.D. candidate in media and public affairs, and mass communication instructor at LSU 

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