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.