What is "masculinity"? What are "masculinities"? What defines these concepts? Use examples from Orwell's 1984 as well as those drawn from popular culture, literature, advertising, and so forth to furnish your response.
Masculinity can be seen as a large portion of the construction of society. It is often viewed by society in the form of power, success, assertiveness and strength. Although these characteristics may often be easily seen in the majority of men, masculinities have become a social construct of gender.
In my opinion, the role of men is a stereotype. Throughout history, men and women have had their roles in the common household. The traditional role of men being the providers, the bread-winners, whatever they may be called, has transformed into a stereotype. This stereotype has been evolved into a much broader scale, from the traditional household, into society. In modern society masculinity can be seen in many different aspects. Every day, millions of people go to gyms and workout in order to achieve a desirable body. Some of these people may be working out just to stay healthy, but why do some of these people (mainly men) find the need to use steroids and other unnatural enhancements? It is because they find the need to make themselves look more masculine, and to conform to the stereotype created of men being ‘strong’.
In George Orwell’s novel 1984, masculinity plays a major role. The need to work out and enhance the human body can also be seen when Winston is attending a workout class that is being performed through his television. During the workout many references relate to masculinity, such as when the instructor says, “we can’t always be on the front line, but at least we can all keep fit” (39). This quotation is relavant because it takes the masculine trait of masculinity and compares it to being on the “front line”, in war, which is also a common masculine trait.
Masculinity is also portrayed in Orwell’s novel as it contributes to the rivalry between masculinity and femininity. Masculinity is made dominant in 1984 partly due to the devaluation of feminine qualities such as caring for children, or raising a family that practices proper beliefs. This feminist role is completely taken away by the government, as love is frowned upon and sex is used only for pure pleasure or repopulation. As a result of this new founded stereotype, the traditional woman’s role of a housewife has been abolished. Femininity is also degraded as Julia is made to be a woman that has had many partners. Julia states that she has had sex “hundreds of times”, something that is seen as extremely degrading from the current feminist stereotype.
Masculinity has always been seen as a powerful, strong, and strong trait. It has been prominent in households throughout history, and has evolved with society. It seems that even when masculinity is weak, it has a way of prevailing over any other obstacles in its way.
Work Cited: George Orwell, 1984
Good work, Myles. You highlight a number of useful stereotypes in our own culture about masculinity, but I urge you to continue thinking of the 'roles' a man must perform in our society - beyond the strong, gym-going guy. And, where do we get these images of the ideal male?
ReplyDeleteYour discussion of Orwell's novel is good, but I think you could get into a bit more detail. Yes, Winston goes to the gym. But, in what ways does he take on a feminine role? And, how does Julia promiscuity also exhibit a powerful masculinity at the heart of her character?