Blog #15 - Reflections

1) What was the one assignment that was fun to do and why?

- I think it's a tie between "Worst Date" and "Class Debate". Worst date I got to share an experience that was based on my personal life as well as others. Also, the class debate involved students going at it with a specific topic which was pretty fun.

2) What was the one assignment that made you learn something about something? What was that "something" you learned?

- In the assignment about double binds and double standards from Bordo. I learned that in defining men masculinity, men are referred to either beastly or gentlemen like or even both. It was very interesting to learn about it.

3) What was the one assignment that you did not care for? why?

- There wasn't really an assignment that I did not care for. I enjoyed all aspects of the class including the blog. I feel it was a great way for classmates to interact with one another and made the class more interesting.

4) Do you think, overall, Blogger was a useful tool for this class? In what ways?

- Yes, Blogger was a useful tool as noted in the answer to question number 3.

5.) Describe one kind of assignment or task that we did NOT do that you either did on your own (say, customizing your blog, adding gadgets), OR an assignment you would have liked to have done, or a TYPE of assignment you would have liked to have done more of?

-Actually, I customized my blog to my liking which included adding gadgets, change backgrounds, design layouts. I was going to suggest a comedy movie at the beginning of class due to the class topic of men masculinity but it was already scheduled to happen which was nice. Maybe a class outing would of been nice? But to where I don't know, it's always fun though. Overall Class was great.

Research Paper 2 Final Draft

Radhames Guzman

Eng 101.0800

Miss B

December 10, 2010

Final Draft: Research Paper #2 – Double binds and Double Standards

Masculinity is a topic that is greatly deliberated in society. Many people have their own views on what it means to be masculine. Focusing on the masculinity of men, men are attached by this aspect of “double bind” masculinity (Bordo 242). A double bind, in reference to masculinity, is a dilemma in communication in which a person has 2 or more conflicting personalities. These personalities are mainly focused on the “gentlemen and beast” aspect which define masculinity (Bordo 242). There are men who obtain both these personalities for themselves and other who only obtain one of the two. However, this affects their masculine role as a man with whichever personality is chosen. In the book called, The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and Private, by Susan Bordo, contains an article called, “gentleman or beast? the double bind of masculinity”. She refers the idea that men need to have this double bind of masculinity to function properly in society. Without the double bind, men would not have self-balance within a relationship and they would not develop specific attitudes and behaviors that could benefit them if they have it.

Some say that these double binds of masculinity are achieved at a very young age through child development within the family. The term gentleman refers to men who are nice, polite, respectful, and well-mannered. The term beast refers to men who are aggressive, rough, powerful, and ill mannered. Men who have only the gentleman aspect are seen to be more feminine which can affect their manliness. Men who are completely beastly are seen to be way to rough and not sensitive enough to handle a social relationship with the opposite sex. In Bordo’s reading, she writes:

“The mixed messages about manliness get directed at girls as well as boys—and catch them at a very young age. In Disney’s most recent version of Beauty and the Beast, the beast-hero not only looks and acts quite a bit like a man, but is the keeper of the flame of civilization. True, he must learn to control his anger and to have good table manners…” (Bordo 243)

What this means is that, men who act all big and tough with beastly aspects also need to have some type of control. Young men are taught these double standards by their mom and dad. The mother teaches the child to be sensitive, caring, and kind to others along with manners. The father teaches the child to play sports, interest in cars, and women in general. With both of these skills, the young man turns into an adult with double binds. Having this double bind will give the man a self-balance approach to women which will make him more attractive. Society will view him sophisticated enough to be manly along with being athletic and sporty to support what skills men are supposed to have to be viewed as manly.

Along with early childhood, it is to believe that men with this double bind of masculinity are stuck in a process during their adolescence and early adulthood that relates to hegemonic masculinity. Hegemonic masculinity describes men who are powerful, aggressive, and dominant. “Hegemonic masculinity provides the dominant standards or versions of acceptable masculinity into which boys and men are normatively socialized, and to which they are expected to conform in order to be acceptable as ‘real’ men and boys” (Lindeggar and Maxwell 96). What this means is that men are expected to be the dominant type, aggressive, and rough to be considered as ‘real’ men. In relation to the double bind, if men are expected to act this way, then it’s an important factor that men have the gentlemen aspect as well. Society will only view men with the beastly aspect because of the lack of balance within personality features.

Men reputation is a big factor when referring to the double bind of masculinity. Some say that men choose to act certain sometimes because of how society will see them. This affects what they say or do when men are around other men and women. In an article by Bogle, she states:

“There are very few restrictions on sexual behavior for college men. Both male and female interviewees said college men were free to hook up as often as they had the opportunity to do so. For men, there is no stigma for engaging in ‘heavy’ sexual activity. In fact, men are congratulated by their male peers for sexual conquests.” (Bogle 104)

What she means is that, men do and say certain things around other men. The male peers would give applaud to the male for doing things which are considered manly. In front of women, men have to act a different way. Society will see men to be aggressive, sporty, and athletic. Men who are chasing women have to abide by double binds so that it doesn’t affect one another. In other words, when men are dating women, they are bind to act a certain way around them so it won’t affect their relationship and when men are around guy friends/peers, they are bind to act a different way so it won’t affect their man reputation. Through this, men need both the gentlemen aspect for women and the beastly aspect for men to obtain this self-balance so that each group would not judge men.

Some say that this self-balance between personalities is needed to remain in control of certain situations within a relationship. Some even say that having this double bind is the only way to actually live a good happy life. Men having certain personality aspects while you’re with the guys makes him feel more manly and while men are with females, they can show a little bit of their sensitive side so women could appreciate them more. Too much of one or the other could cause problems and even turn out gaining enemies. Men masculinity would always be defined with a mystery. What does society actually want men to do or how do they actually want men to act? It’s better to have a balance within life.

Works Cited

Bordo, Susan. “Gentleman or Beast? The Double Bind of Masculinity.” The Male Body: A New

Look At Men in Public and In Private. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999.

242-264. Print.

Lindeggar, Graham, and Justin Maxwell. “Teenage masculinity: the double bind of conformity to

hegemonic standards.” From Boys to Men: Social constructions of masculinity in

comtemporary society. Eds. T Shefer, K Ratele, A Strebel, N Shabalala, and R Buikema.

South Africa, 2007 UCT Press Juta & Company Ltd 94-111. Print

Bogle, Kathleen A. “Men, Women, and the Sexual Double Standard.” Hooking Up: Sex, Dating,

and Relationships on Campus. New York: New York University Press, 2008. 96-128.

Print.

Research Paper 2 First Draft

Radhames Guzman
Eng 101.0800
Miss B
November 29, 2010

Research Paper #2 – Double binds and Double Standards

The term masculinity is a topic that is greatly deliberated among society. Many people have their own views on what it means to be masculine. Focusing now on men masculinity, men are bind by this aspect of “double bind masculinity”. This means that men are focused on a personality that defines them to be masculine. These personalities are mainly focused on the gentlemen and beast aspect which define masculinity. There are men who obtain both these personalities for themselves and other who only obtain one of the two. However, this affects their masculine role as a man with whichever personality is chosen. Men need to have this double bind of masculinity to function properly in society. Without the double bind, men would not have self-balance within a relationship and men would not develop specific attitudes and behaviors that could benefit them if they have it.

Some say that these double binds of masculinity are achieved at a very young age through child development within the family. The term gentleman refers to men who are nice, polite, respectful, and well-mannered. The term beast refers to men who are aggressive, rough, powerful, and ill mannered. Men who have only the gentleman aspect are seen to be more feminine which can affect their manliness. Men who are completely beastly are seen to be way to rough and not sensitive enough to handle a social relationship with the opposite sex. [1st Open QUOTE] [1st Close QUOTE][Explain Quote] [Give example] Young men are taught these double standards by their mom and dad. The mother teaches the child to be sensitive, caring, and kind to others along with manners. The father teaches the child to play sports, interest in cars, and women in general. With both of these skills, the young man turns into an adult with double binds. Having this double bind will give the man a self-balance approach to women which will make him more attractive. Society will view him sophisticated enough to be manly along with being athletic and sporty to support what skills men are supposed to have to be viewed as manly.

Along with early childhood, it is to believe that men with this double bind of masculinity are stuck in a process during their adolescence and early adulthood that relates to hegemonic masculinity. Hegemonic masculinity describes men who are powerful, aggressive, and dominant.[2nd Open Quote] [2nd Close Quote] [Explain quote] [Give example]
PARAGRAPH NOT DONE

Men reputation is a big factor when referring to the double bind of masculinity. Some say that men choose to act certain sometimes because of how society will see them. This affects what they say or do when men are around other men and women. [2nd Open Quote] [2nd Close Quote][Explain quote] [Give example] Peers will see men to be aggressive, sporty, and athletic. Men who are chasing women have to abide by double standards so that it doesn’t affect one another. In other words, when men are dating women, they are bind to act a certain way around them so it won’t affect their relationship and when men are around guy friends/peers, they are bind to act a different way so it won’t affect their man reputation. Through this, men need both the gentlemen aspect for women and the beastly aspect for men to obtain this self-balance so that each group would not judge men.

Works Cited

Bordo, Susan. “Gentleman or Beast? The Double Bind of Masculinity.” The Male Body: A New Look At Men in Public and In Private. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999. 242-264. Print.

Lindeggar, Graham, and Justin Maxwell. “Teenage masculinity: the double bind of conformity to hegemonic standards.” From Boys to Men: Social constructions of masculinity in comtemporary society. Eds. T Shefer, K Ratele, A Strebel, N Shabalala, and R Buikema. South Africa, 2007 UCT Press Juta & Company Ltd 94-111. Print

Bogle, Kathleen A. “Men, Women, and the Sexual Double Standard.” Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus. New York: New York University Press, 2008. 96 128. Print.

Quick Write

The paradox of men fathering young babies.

This is very contradictory. Men are known to be people who work during the day, bring income to the home, and support the family needs including food, clothes, and healthcare. To have men do the opposite and provide nursing for young babies when they are born states a proposition that contradicts itself, but it is possible. The photo relates to this as to men carrying babies in the womb but contradicts itself because men do not have wombs. In the article is states, "Fathering referes more directly to what men do with and for children" (Coltrane 433).

Preliminary Thesis and Annotated Bibliography # 2

Radhames Guzman
ENG 101.0800
Miss B.
November 19, 2010

Preliminary Thesis and Annotated Bibliography

Preliminary Thesis – Do men need to have this double bind of masculinity to function properly in society? Or is it okay for men to choose one side of personality? How will society view them?

Bordo, Susan. “Gentleman or Beast? The Double Bind of Masculinity.” The Male Body: A New Look At Men in Public and In Private. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999. 242-264. Print.

• In this chapter of the book, it talks about the mixed messages about manliness that gets directed to women specifically as well as men. Along with catching this at a very young age, the double bind or double standards are seemed to be embedded within men and women.

• This source is appropriate and useful for my research paper because it explains men who have the gentlemen aspect of masculinity and men who have the beast aspect and how each personality affects them as a person along with how society views them.

• Men who don’t have this double bind that are either gentleman or beast are viewed differently. Men who are too gentlemen like are seemed to be viewed as feminine. Men who are too beastly are seemed to be way too aggressive and scary for women and makes it harder for men to get “hitched”.

Lindeggar, Graham, and Justin Maxwell. “Teenage masculinity: the double bind of conformity to hegemonic standards.” From Boys to Men: Social constructions of masculinity in contemporary society. Eds. T Shefer, K Ratele, A Strebel, N Shabalala, and R Buikema. South Africa, 2007 UCT Press Juta & Company Ltd 94-111. Print

• In this chapter of a book, it talks about the double bind of individual men and how the constructions of masculinity itself must be revealed.

• This source is appropriate and useful for my research paper because it shows certain men’s attitudes and behaviors within the double-bind of masculinity.

• It is to believe that men with this double bind of masculinity was stuck in a process during their adolescence and early adulthood to take up particular subject positions in relation to dominant hegemonic standards.

Bogle, Kathleen A. “Men, Women, and the Sexual Double Standard.” Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus. New York: New York University Press, 2008. 96-128. Print.

• In this chapter of the book, it talking about the sexual revolution throughout a period of 30 years, there’s a double standard for male versus female sexual behavior in regards to living on the college campus.

• This source is appropriate and use for my research paper because I can use the points where men are stuck in this double standard within real like situation especially in the college life. Do men need this sexual double standard to protect their reputations?

• Men are free to choose whether to have a very active sex life or to settle down. How does this affect women? Do men living with double standards in campus life better their relationships/reputations? How women react toward this?

Research Paper 1 Final Draft

Radhames Guzman

Magdalena Bogacka

English 101

11/8/2010

Advertisements, articles, and other media are displayed almost everywhere we go and everywhere we look. The purpose of media is to convince us to buy the goods, products and/or services they're advertising. The media designs images which influence how we see the world and society around us. Most of the time, it’s much more than what they want us to see. The medium use hidden messages behind their products more specifically referring to men and the type of masculinity they promote. The manliness aspect of masculinity which is considered to be men who are tough, strong, sometimes aggressive, and along with other features are being promoted in certain magazines and articles that sometimes we miss when we are skimming through pages. Esquire magazine is a men’s magazine which focuses, or better yet emphasizes men’s fashion. However, fashion is not everything that is being articulated. The messages in articles and advertisements show hints to what the magazine is really offering to people reading it.

Throughout the year of 2009 including other issues, Esquire magazine demonstrated a pattern within articles and advertisements that showed types of masculinity and how they were trying to promote it to the society. Esquire magazine, through research, promotes this manliness aspect masculinity. This manly type of masculinity reflects toward hegemonic similarities which promote power, authority, and aggression. Some articles in reference to manly masculinity, provided supporting points within the magazine which included what things a man should own, how the ownership of items represents knowledge and skill, the evolution of man, how he’s come to be defined in the present, and what people view as manliness through specific careers/jobs. Some other points which are very effective in providing evidence on how the magazine promotes the manly aspect of masculinity includes articles which show how men should be athletic or be built to show the “macho” in them, how men react toward women and specific rules into proving their manliness to attract them.

Society sees men as people who are responsible and that can carry on the name of being called a man. Mary-Louise Parker writes a thank-you note to men expressing appreciation to which men could do the things women particularly won’t do. Mary states men are “manly creatures” (Mary-Louise Parker 76). She describes how men who smell good or bad are still considered to be manly. Men have certain features which describes manly. The fact that men are able to bait a hook, or build a decent cabinet with tools, or “make the perfect sandwich’ (Mary-Louise Parker 76), shows men could do dirty work along with sweet things to please women. This article promotes the masculinity of men being manly due to the physical features of smell, hair looking fuzzy, or having the lost look on their faces and the mental capacity of fixing up a sandwich for your loved one.

According to the manliness stereotype aspect of masculinity, men are supposed to be people who lead their family. They are the ones who are in control. Men are also known to be born with specific knowledge and skill by gender. According to an article in Esquire magazine, it states that “A man using a GPS is half a man” (“Things a Man should own” 80-83). What this means is for example, if a man is using a map or a cordless drill, it signifies how men could utilize certain items to get somewhere or fix something within the home to show manliness. Most men have the natural born ability to have the urge to fix things. The manliness in being a handyman is displayed through the ability to fix problems and seen in the man who is knowledgeable of his surroundings therefore giving him a sense of direction in other aspects of his life.

In accordance with another article in Esquire magazine, an author wrote, “With a strong and flexible core, you can throw harder, hit harder in swing sports, and perform better in demanding sow sports (Curtis Pesmen)”. Working out the body’s anchor makes the body strong and flexible. Some women when looking for men in their lives search for specific features including physical appearance. Statistics show women are attracted to men who are fit. Curtis explains how having a better body makes you a better man. It’s important for men who want to attract women to work out and develop those certain things which are muscles, fitness, or self-perseverance to create the look of being manly to attract women. The appearances could be going to the gym, working out to get nice big muscles, or just to prove to others you are fit enough to be in a gym. This shows that the man is strong, has endurance in specific activities, and handles himself independently. This conveys masculinity because women would look men in a way that their strong and as well as men handling himself. Along with that, men could also handle their women in a way that’s attractive towards them because of their muscular and independence.

A quote from an article says, “When you happen upon a beautiful woman, you are that monk (“A Man’s Guide to Women” 104-111)”. It is to believe that to win a woman’s heart you must know her heart. According to “A Man’s Guide to Women”, men are required to have a specific guide to women in order to have a decent relationship. You are to learn how to understand women by knowing what makes them feel more comfortable around you. Women see men as gentlemen who are involved into considering the feelings and emotions of a woman. Women also feel it’s important to show affection through the love of buying gifts and occasional outings. Knowing these key points puts a label on a man’s head that screams out “this is the man I want!” This promotes the manliness aspect of masculinity because men need to prove themselves as a man to act a certain way or show women affection. This of course shows responsibility which will give the opportunity for men to, hence the term, “go wild”, once women see the actions men are doing.

In comparison to the understanding of a woman’s feelings and having the gentlemen feature, men are described to be gentlemen by acting out hegemonic masculinity. Manliness sometimes tends to describe hegemonic masculinity. Tony Coles in “Negotiating the Field of Masculinity: The Production and Reproduction of Multiple Dominant Masculinities” stated, “male power is at a structural level with no real understanding of how power is organized in terms of complicity…”(Tony Coles 33). Tony also stated that, “Masculinity does not mean the same thing to all men” (Tony Coles 33). Men that possess positions of power and wealth are described to be people who are manly. For example, they are responsible, they know what they want, and they have goals; all of which applies to men who are in control and men who are dominant. Some examples which apply to hegemonic masculinity focus on men who are “slender, fit, young, aggressive, and businessman dressed”. Many women see men are very well dressed to be high-class gentlemen which find them attractive. Other people within society believe it’s much more that the actual possession of wealth that makes a man hegemonic but how men came to be itself through development.

Many people believe that men are who they are because of tradition. The evolution of the man has changed over the past decades, the progression refers to how society views it and how man is defined but some things stay the same. In another article, Tom Chiarella tries to convey readers that to truly look at the manliness of masculinity, we would need to focus where man originated from (Tom Chiarella 61-63). The foundation of manliness can be based on the ideals that stem from the traditional man and certain qualities a man possess. For example, back in the day, there were no clocks. Certain developments such as telling the time of day was a man’s way to be in control of knowing his surroundings. Looking up at the sun, along with knowing which way is north and where the fish run made man one with the environment, thus adding to the control. In reference to Tony Coles, both articles are similar through the possession of things but one with actual physical items like wealth and the other with knowledge and mental features. Through the centuries, the ideas knowledge and skill have been added on or altered to the perspective of man. The ideas point out the manliness masculinity coming from the very beginning of man.

Along with the evolution of man, there are reasons to believe as well that men who are manly are developed as early as young men in school. Macho mannerisms are displayed in order to conform within the school social setting. For example, “macho” students are perceived to run the show and define what is cool and uncool. Loud and rough, they make themselves the center of attention. In another secondary source article, it quotes “The concept “student styles” is inspired by the students’ own discourse” (Selma Therese Lyng 466). A multiple set of student styles is presented, including the macho man. Lyng states, students have shared what performances, preferences, and other signifiers fit well together within one style and being able to display through practice, the knowledge of these rules which is essential to being rendered as a socially competent and intelligible person (Selma Therese Lyng 467). The macho mannerisms promote the manliness masculinity and ultimately, the macho developments will carry out with young men past their pubescence and into their adult manhood.

Based on these reviewed articles, Esquire magazine portrays subliminal messages of the manliness aspect of masculinity. To attract readers and devoted subscribers, Esquire used fashion and articles to convey the points of masculinity of men. In this way, they could reach out to a broader audience which focuses on men but can also include women. Their articles imply that real men own tools to represent knowledge and skill, take into account for staying fit, learn the ways to understand women, and are born with the foundation of manliness the come from the traditional man. In a manly man's world, Esquire magazine has it all figured out to promote their views and reach its target audience by writing certain articles for which people in society can analyze what is truly being said about men and their masculinity.

Works Cited

“A Thank-You Note To Men.” Esquire, 152.2 (August 2009) 76-77. Print

“Things A Man Should Own.” Esquire, 151.5 (May 2009) 80-83. Print.

Chiarella, Tom “What Is A Man?” Esquire, 151.5 (May 2009) 61-63. Print.

Pesmen, Curtis “Better Body, Better Man…” Esquire, 141.5 (May 2004) 100-107. Print.

“A Man’s Guide To Women.” Esquire, 153.5 (May 2010) 104-111. Print.

Coles, Tony “Negotiating the Field of Masculinity: The Production and Reproduction of

Multiple Dominant Masculinities” Men and Masculinities, Vol. 12 Number 1 October

(2009) 30-44. Print

Lyng, Selma Therese “Is there more to “Antischoolishness” than Masculinity? On Multiple

Student Styles, Gender, and Educational Self-Exclusion in Secondary School” Men and

Masculinities, Vol. 11, Number 4 June (2009) 462-487. Print.

Worst Date

The worst date ever... I met this girl a couple years ago in High School. She seemed nice at first and was very pretty. We went out on our first date to get to know each other a little more. We went to a fancy restaurant where they served excellent seafood. At first, things went okay but after we ordered our food, it went downhill. She started talking about things that didn't make sense. She went on about talking random things that weren't even relevant to the conversation we were talking about. I started to lose interest in her little by little. When we got our food, we started to eat and it was pure silence throughout the whole meal, it was crazy and frustrating. I decided at that point, I'm not going to continue seeing this chick. Once we finished eating, I wanted to leave and take her home to end the night till she stopped me. She explained to me that she never had a real boyfriend or even went out on a date. She was always too shy to speak to men. So I thought to myself, now this explains everything... I decided to give her another shot after communicating with her and it ended up us getting together and till this day we are still together 5 years and counting...