Reinventing Male Identity: The Empowering Journey Toward a Changed Masculinity
In a groundbreaking exploration of masculinity, cultural critic and feminist theorist Bell Hooks delves into the social expectations that shape men's lives in her book, "The Will to Change." The renowned author, who passed away in 2021, offers a compelling argument that men are often taught to be dominant, violent, and unfeeling, a paradigm that causes suffering not only for men but also for those around them.
Hooks asserts that boys are conditioned to believe that building connections with others and avoiding violence are not the path to manhood. As adults, many men use violence to assert their masculinity if they cannot do so through wealth and success. This toxic masculinity, she argues, is a product of patriarchal socialisation that causes men to suffer and isolate themselves emotionally.
One of the key messages in "The Will to Change" is that men can learn to acknowledge and share their feelings, leading to healing and the ability to love others and themselves. By admitting to their emotions, men can begin to break free from the emotional barriers imposed by patriarchy.
However, change is not solely the responsibility of men. Women must also play a role in helping men heal and overcome patriarchal barriers. This means creating safe spaces for men to express their feelings without fear of judgment or dismissal. Unfortunately, women often urge men to open up but then shut them down, a behaviour that stems from their own indoctrination into patriarchy.
The book also addresses the impact of unemployment on men, a challenge to the patriarchy as it gives men more time to confront their emotional issues, something that patriarchy has evolved to prevent. Men, faced with unemployment and a changing economy, often turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol, pornography, or gambling to deal with their emotions.
The family, Hooks suggests, must be transformed into a loving environment for men to change for the better. The family, traditionally a patriarchal institution, needs to shift its dynamics to one of love and understanding to support men in their emotional growth.
In a poignant twist, men seek out sex as a means to fulfil their need for love, expecting emotional satisfaction from an act that should ideally be rooted in love and intimacy. However, sex only provides temporary relief, and the more intense a man's emotional pain becomes, the more he craves sex or pornography.
Hooks' work serves as a call to action for both men and women to challenge the status quo and redefine masculinity. Men are encouraged to practice integrity to shed their masks and become whole people again. The path to change may be challenging, but as Hooks reminds us, it is a necessary step towards a more compassionate and equitable society.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
