Masculinity versus Femininity in the modern world
Judging gender equality in the context femininity and
masculinity is like looking at South Africa’s current politics without
considering its past. Masculinity has always been seen as a con in popular
culture. This is not a baseless accusation. Feminists have always described
masculinity as a crude and unforgiving complexity. The nature of humanity is to
reject anything that challenges the values in which we have built our society. In
developed countries, independence is an important and an un compromising value.
Masculinity is discouraged.
It is wise to understand that in different countries,
cultures and communities masculinity is seen in a contradicting manner to that
of one another. The values are subject to relevance. In countries in the Middle
East, Africa and Asia tradition clearly depicts masculinity as the foundation
of a thriving nation. In these countries tradition I thrives unchallenged.
Tradition has been manipulated by many to conform to an oppressive state, contradicting
the values of its foundation.
It is important to measure the fundamentalism of masculinity
in different environmental settings. This is important in identifying the role
of the nurture theory in everyday life. Children, who are nurtured in an
oppressive household, are likely to apprehend such behaviour as the child
matures. However, Children whom are reared in homes where masculinity is
security and a mere hierarchical reform, they might see masculinity as a positive
regardless of gender. Masculinity is as much about pride, as it is an integral
part of a family. Women are too proud to accept the value of masculinity in
their lives and Men are too proud to accept that their contribution to the
wellbeing of their family may be inferior to that of women. This is the pride
dilemma which modern day masculinity and femininity are currently facing.
The role of masculinity and femininity in finances has been a
source of controversy. However these are different issues altogether. A man is
not masculine because he is the bread winner. He is so because he is level
headed and maintains rationality. He is a source of strength and re-assurance
for his family and community. Masculinity has thereafter been manipulated in a
manner that it is about the amount of manual labour around the house or
financial dominance. This method of thinking has been victimizing Men for a
while. This is the type of masculinity depicted in the media and in governance.
It puts pressure on Men to conform to such and failure to do that, results in
rejection from the community and family. Resulting in a depressive state and
manifest its self physically through physical and emotional abuse.
Politics and the government are also under threat to modern
day masculinity. The South African government has indorsed many initiatives to
counter masculinity but at what price? There is an annual “take a girl child to
work” initiative; however this has not been accepted without animosity from
boys. Boys and young Men in South Africa have expressed, that they feel
under-valued by the government. It is important to identify that the laws of
the country have not been implemented in such a way that, competence over
values gender and ethnicity. The Men population feels little or nothing is
being done at grass roots level to change the mind-set of the country. The
government its self that introduce the measures at post grassroots level, have
not done so in its own leadership.
Humanity has a tendency to denounce and reject what is
different. The Nazi’s in Germany rejected the Jews because they were different.
The Rwanda massacre was caused by ethnic tension in the area and this continues
throughout the world. Masculinity and femininity are no different. Women in the
Middle East have been jailed and abused because they are seen as inferior, even
though their oppressors were themselves conceived by women. They have been
“brain washed” to see themselves as higher beings. This fact is not a
reflection of masculinity but it is a case of masculinity manipulated.
Femininity has been accused of rejecting masculinity altogether. They have
rejected and ridiculed Men who practise masculinity. They have made the Men
defensive as opposed to open minded, however this is not a reflection of all
feminists.
We should maintain solidarity in eradicating any barrier
whether racial or gender related. We should hope to see an eradication of
masculinity and femininity, at least as a con in society. We should promote the
rejection of the idea and not the human being.
