The term masculinity is one of the most discussed in modern society. Many professionals are studying this topic in more depth to understand the main aspects that differ masculinity from femininity and why it could be related to both men and women. This essay will show how the term masculinity has developed throughout generations and its meaning in 2020. Moreover, I will present strong evidence and argument to support or deny the basic understanding of masculinity.
Every culture can define the term masculinity in different ways, and it might not have a strong definition that will fit every nation. Every culture has an idea of gender, but not all can define the term masculinity correctly (Connell 1). In the modern world, this idea means that the action which people do reflect their gender. Originally, gender was defined by physiological factors like body structure and structural processes. However, this meaning started to fade, and masculinity could be applicable to both males and females. Connell stated that in 2020 masculinity and femininity are not related to the physiological structure of the human body but personal characteristics (4). Society is not a biological process, and gender stereotypes are not fixed. Everyone has a unique way of thinking, and people understand masculinity differently. While one group of men believes that masculinity can only be referred to their physiological structure, the other group can apply this term to many women who show a strong characteristic of their minds.
The definition of masculinity started its existence many years ago, and past generations faced different understandings of this idea. For instance, according to Morris and Ratajczak, gender played a huge role in the development of masculinity and femininity (1988). Women in the United States were not allowed to do menâs work as it was not accepted by society. Moreover, in some states, women, who tried to do the work, which was originally assigned to men, were not accepted by society. Men also could not do womenâs work as it was humiliating and unacceptable for them. Consequently, the terms masculinity and femininity started to play a huge role in the past. The difference in appearance and body structure were the main factors that defined these two terms. The way to change the idea of masculinity was not easy, and many people had to go through discrimination and humiliation to change the world for the better. For instance, American society did not want to see a woman as a president. However, in 2020 the relation to the ruling woman has changed, and gender stereotypes are not strong (Cohen 9). Masculinity which was closely connected to gender, does not play any role in the political sphere these days, and people can accept women as the head of the government.
A long and difficult path to change has brought many positive results to the present. The modern society of the United States managed to achieve equality and defend its rights. For example, the modern feminist movement supports the idea that women can complete menâs work, and males should not insult women for doing work that has historically been assigned to them (Connell 7). Moreover, in 2020 almost every human desire could be fulfilled, and gender change began to gain great popularity. The traditional understanding of gender started to disappear, and people relate masculinity and femininity to the inner world of every person.
To conclude everything that has been stated so far, the term masculinity has changed, and the primary definition created many years ago might not be applicable to the idea carried nowadays. With the development of society, such terms as gender should not have one explanation. Each person has a right to create their personal definitions of gender and pass them on to the future generation.
Works Cited
Cohen, Nancy L. Breakthrough: The Making of Americaâs First Woman President. Counterpoint, 2016.
Connell, Raewyn. The Social Organization of Masculinity. Routledge, 2020.
Morris, Edward W. and Ratajczak, Kathleen. âCritical Masculinity Studies and Research on Violence Against Women: AN Assessment of Past Scholarship and Future Directionsâ. PubMed, vol. 26, no. 16, 2019, pp. 1980-2006.