BGLTSA
Response by Ryan Richard Thoreson
Masculinity isn’t a term that anyone can define in an immutable, ahistorical way. Instead, masculinity has always been defined by the norms of particular times and places. It’s also heavily policed, though, and those who don’t fit the social model of masculinity or femininity – whatever those models may be – are subject to all kinds of punishment, from discrimination to harassment to physical and sexual violence.
From a really early age on, children are encouraged by their parents to act in a masculine or feminine manner, and that message is repeated over and over again throughout their lives. Even in the workplace, there’s a pressure to act masculine or feminine, and that pressure extends to specific standards for the way that people dress, act, and behave. For people who don’t necessarily play those roles, the consequences range from disapproval to accusations of immorality to outright punishment, and without protection for gender expression in some non-discrimination codes, that’s often a legal and socially sanctioned response.
The BGLTSA supports the rights of individuals to express their gender however they see fit, without requiring anyone to fit some model of masculinity or femininity that might be arbitrarily imposed in other contexts. Realistically, there’s no reason that the values that some scholars have attributed to masculinity – like dependability, strength, or leadership – are at all related to gender identity and expression. Masculinity is a way that some societies code these values, but it’s not especially compelling or even accurate to base these sorts of attributes on something as individual as someone’s gender.
In spite of the social prescriptions of masculinity and femininity, the way that individuals act out their gender is a highly personal choice, and it has as much to do with the way that people feel comfortable expressing themselves as it does with the social structures that reward or punish them for those expressions. The BGLTSA supports people’s ability to make that choice, and to identify however they feel comfortable identifying, whether it’s male, female, gender-queer, or anything else.
Latino Men’s Collective
Response by Oscar Romano
Strength, boldness, and honor. These are the attributes that all men should seek to have within themselves. Strength: all men should strive to have a strong character and be strong individuals. They should be able to respond well under pressure as well as know when they need to ask for help. Boldness: although there may be dire consequences, some of the greatest rewards in life can only be received by taking large risks. Men should be aware, however, that risks should not be taken carelessly, but rather, as the result of a well thought decision. Honor: men should have honor with regard to themselves, their family, and their culture. They should carry the knowledge that everything they do reflects the nature of their own character, as well as the heritage they represent.
When asked about the best way to promote masculinity, many men may come to realize that they do not have an immediate answer. This is because most men take on the attributes ascribed by society but do not take the time to question the essence of masculinity. By having discussions on a wide range of topics, we feel we can encourage men to reflect on their actions and the societal roles they fulfill. This will allow them to find pride in what they do and strengthen their masculinity through increased awareness. Furthermore, we believe that the best way to promote a more positive view of masculinity is through leadership and example. The Latino Men’s Collective believes that by showing men the attributes of masculinity in which we take pride, we can encourage them to look within themselves and seek a source of honor and dignity.
Masculinity today carries with it a variety of connotations. These may range from the chauvinist “machista” to the Don Juan to that rare breed, the ideal gentleman. The opinions that people have on the subject of masculinity often stem from their experiences with men they have encountered in their own lives. By beginning within our own community, we believe that we can spread the ideals of masculinity across cultures and boundaries. Our goal is for the men of the future to hold strong to the attributes of strength, boldness, and honor so that masculinity may be universally portrayed as an ideal worth reaching for. We aspire to be great fathers, model brothers, loving sons. We strive to be men.
Native Americans at Harvard
Response by Leah Lussier
Masculinity is about taking responsibility, being a good role model, setting high expectations and living up to them, and upholding ideals of strength and integrity. Also, for many American Indian communities and individuals, masculinity is epitomized in the form of leadership and commitment to family and community. Traditional American Indian gender roles do not always parallel those of mainstream society, and therefore masculinity for American Indian communities does not traditionally connote female oppression. In fact, one important role that American Indian masculinity plays is to uphold the sacred attributes of women by respecting and revering their sacred roles as life givers. This still holds true in many communities today, and masculinity continues to reflect traditional leadership and support roles in family and community.
Native Americans at Harvard College (NAHC) promotes masculinity by encouraging American Indian male students to participate in leadership roles within our community. Because it is a reality that American Indian men are heavily underrepresented in higher education, NAHC promotes masculinity by supporting and encouraging American Indian men to further their education, pursue leadership, and eventually give back to their communities. Also, through working with American Indian women in leadership in NAHC, men will understand the importance of women in our communities, as well as the importance of leadership for our people.
For an American Indian man to uphold these virtues in the face of all that stands in his path can be a very difficult endeavor. To realize his goals and beat the “odds” by furthering his education is the best way to demonstrate the most important qualities of masculinity. An American Indian male in higher education can show masculinity best by finishing his education, remaining strong, demonstrating integrity, and by remembering where he is from. These things will allow him to someday give back to his community and people through leadership, and to support his family.
White Men’s Association
Response by Benjamin James Conlee
The truest and healthiest conception of masculinity emphasizes the importance of men as providers, leaders, and protectors. While heterosexuality is most compatible with these traits, it is not absolutely necessary. The traits a man should possess to embody the traits of a provider, leader, and protector include the following: self-confidence, courage, virility, physical and psychological strength, conviction, love, competitiveness, chivalry, resilience, and a team-oriented mindset.
Genetically, the core of masculinity has a crucial element of heterosexuality. As the emphasis on individual rights and humanism has caused more traditional, natural gender roles to be broken down, sexual desire manifests itself in homosexuality and other deviant sexual behaviors. Homosexuality is not characteristically masculine, while male heterosexuality is characteristically masculine. This is partly due to the natural interaction between men, which is for the purpose of building camaraderie and friendship, but is not for sexual gratification. Sexuality, from a pragmatic standpoint, has as its primary purpose the production of offspring. From the standpoint of defining masculinity, pleasure and emotional health are secondary to reproduction as the purpose of sexual intercourse.
Society’s conception of masculinity changes throughout time, and in the past few generations in first-world cultures, the requirement for all men to possess these traits has diminished in some respects, and so has society’s emphasis on these traditional conceptions of masculinity. However, the traits listed above still remain at the core of the true definition of masculinity.
Fundamentally, societies still function much as they have throughout history. For any man to succeed in any society, he must be able to be able to compete against his rivals, work with his friends, and be able to produce offspring. That these skills are key to masculinity derives from the pragmatic nature of the masculine male. A masculine man is successful in his time and place, and regardless of what society dictates, success requires the ability to lead, influence, and produce offspring.
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