Masculinity: Difference between revisions

'''Masculinity''' is "the quality, state, or degree of being masculine" <ref>Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster's dictionary and thesaurus. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster ;, 2006. Print. [http://www.amazon.com/Merriam-Websters-Dictionary-Thesaurus-Merriam-Webster-Inc/dp/0877798516/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398381233&sr=1-5&keywords=merriam+webster+dictionary]</ref>. The term is used to differentiate the male and female. Contrary to masculinity are terms such as emasculate or <span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femininity feminine]</span>. A synonymous term for masculine is <span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virility virile]</span>. There are many contexts to which the notion of the masculine male refers. For example, Shakespeare, in many of his plays, depicts societies in which his male characters are deemed as <span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemony hegemonic]</span>.

Bruce R. Smith says that Lear's words mean that Lear sees his upper body as a representation of "reason" and logic, and his lower body as passion<ref>Smith, Bruce R.. "Introduction." ''Shakespeare and Masculinity''. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print. [http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Masculinity-Oxford-Topics/dp/0198711891/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398382091&sr=8-1&keywords=Shakespeare+and+Masculinity]</ref>. Smith goes on to say that Lear sees the division of his upper and lower body to be gendered: "the heart that he calls 'mine' is threatened by 'this mother' from below. Lear's loss of reason...can be seen...as the triumph of this female passion within, a loss of both patriarchy and masculine identity."

In modern day society, masculinity is often associated with "prestige, power, and freedom"<ref>Leone, Bruno, and Terry Neill. Male/female roles: opposing viewpoints. St. Paul, Minn.: Greenhaven Press, 1983. Print. [http://www.amazon.com/Male-female-roles-Opposing-viewpoints/dp/0899083188/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1398385801&sr=8-8&keywords=Male+Female+Opposing+Viewpoints]</ref>.  Since men are considered to be the ones ruling the world, there's still the idea of unequal division of labor. However, given the history of women's oppression, men always had somewhat of an advantage over women, since the women were the ones who had to stay home and nurture the "foetus and young children." Thus the men had more time to develop a competitive nature in gaining wealth and power, whereas women developed more of caring and nurturing sensibility.