Monday, February 28, 2011

Option for 3/7: A call to men.

A call to men. [VIDEO]
What is the "man box"? What does it mean to be a man?

21 comments:

  1. The "man box" is a territory or limitation to what it supposedly means to be a man. In most socieities, to be a man is to be strong, powerful, emotionless, in control, and dominant. In these particular socieities, to be a woman is then meant to be quiet, emotional, weak, controlled, and dominated. Under these circumstances, men are rulers and women are followers. However, what the speaker is trying to explain here is that people need to appreciate one another for their humanity and existance, not only for their sex/gender. If we decline the stereotypes and misconceptions on the basis of sex, we will decline the consumption of inequality as a whole and learn to take every indiviual into consideration for who they are inside.

    -Jess Lord

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  2. Adding on to my previous post, these stereotypes had to have originated somewhere and I believe that they indeed evolved from the beginning of time through heredity. It is in a woman's biology to care for her children; nurture, breast feed, and protect them. It is in a man's biology to be built with physicality emphasis; more muscular. This portrayal leads us to these stereotypes of the woman homemaker and man breadwinner.

    -Jess Lord

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  3. Jess,
    You've written a very interesting analysis. So, then, would you say that biology is destiny?
    Best,
    Dr. Stovall

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  4. The man box is something like a set of rules of things that men can and cant partake in. They have things like protector, don't act like a women, must be heterosexual, view women as property or objects, and be tough and rough.The man box is something that alot of men live by and they don't necessary even know that this thing exist. The man that was speaking about how he treated his son when he was crying and he was only five. These things starts when they are children and people mainly fathers dont realize that they are doing these things to their children. If the son is crying he is told to stop go to their room untill they are ready to act like a man. Whereas with the daughter its ok for her to cry and show sadness. This is something that is universal, and most of the time people don't realize that they are doing it.

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  5. The man box is a set of unwritten rules society goes by. In oreder to be to be a 'man' in today's society, one has to be Strong, powerful, emotionless. If one shows emotions he is not consider to be a 'man'. He then acting like a 'woman'. These man believe that women should cater to their every need and the women doesn't have a voice. If a man shows emotion then he is weak, he's taught at an early age not to show how he feels. If a boy is crying, he is told to stop crying, you're acting like a girl.

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  6. This video was very interesting to me. The "man box" is a list of characteristics that society feels a man should be. If a man does not meet all the requirements in the box then he would be consider less of a man or have female characteristics. In society to be a man, they would have to be fearless, strong, powerful, show little emotions except anger, and a provider, etc. Like the man made in the video all these traits began when they are little boys. As boys they were taught not to cry and man up, as if crying is only for females. Boys were not allowed to be babied but girls are. There are many things men can do that women cant do and vise versa or it will be consider abnormal. I feel there is also a "Woman Box" that society view woman should be.

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  7. The "man box" is a list of qualities that society believes is what makes you a man. Without these qualities you are not considered a man, rather less of a man. To be a man you must be Strong, in charge, Fearless and a protector. You are not to be "like a women" or "like a gay man" (Which means a gay man isn't a man because he's gay). A man should not show weakness or cry but be courageous and view woman as objects/property. For a little boy to become a man, he has to be taught these traits by a man during his childhood. If these qualities are what society belives makes you a man, then they must think the complete opposite of these qualities are what make you a women. Tiera Gary

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  8. This was interesting video but the things that he was saying is so true and i understand whaty he saying because what he would do to his son my father would do to my brother. The "man box" is considered to be a characteristics of bascially rules that men have to live by, and if they didnd they are considered less of a man and have female like characteristics. Within this "man box" men have no respect for women and that they will do ANYTHING they have to keep they man hood and wouldnt never want another man to think their less of a man. Its sad thats how our society is, but it is what it is.

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  9. Andrea Beltran LandersMarch 6, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    The "man box" is the sum of all the characteristics a man should have in a certain society. This "man box" slightly varies from society to society but keeps certain traits common to most western cultures: men are strong, they are not to show any emotion besides anger, they make the decisions and are leaders. On the other hand, the "man box" teaches young men that women are objects (especially sexual objects)weak and inferior to men. This collective socialization of men is passed on from generation to generation and is learned from older models. It is interesting that according to the "men box" women simply exist to make men look better, stronger, as leaders.
    This is why it is so important what we teach to kids in early stages. Whatever they are exposed to when young, they will end up doing when they grow up.
    I particularly liked the phrase "your liberation as a woman is tied to my liberation as a man".

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  10. The man box is what men are exspected to act like. Almost like rules they should automaticly know and follow. This box is just a symbol of how others exspect men to act. I feel that men have all kinds of pressure put on them to be tough and strong and dominent in everything they do. They need to be top dog in order to gain respect and thats not always the case.

    Kristy Portell

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  11. the man box is guidelines that supposedly defines what a man is. The man box is a representation of how society depicts men. and the characteristics that a man is suppose to have. To be a man you should be tough and show no emotions, to be a man you should treat women as sexual objects and belittle them, to be a man you should be a protector and not act like a women. In all of these rules of how a man should and shoudn't be, I feel that women are being put down. As he stated in the video that while all of these things are being said, how do people view women. Men are dominant in society and all of the things in the man box is really how things are.

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  12. The "Man Box" is the characteristics that society have put upon men. Society thinks that men should be powerful, fearless, strong, and the decision makers. If men didn't live up to these characteristics, they were looked at as less of of a man, or even have some female characteristics. Whereas, women are to follow behind the men, stay home & take care of the family, cook, clean, etc. Men are looked at as the more dominant figure & women are looked at as weak, & they need a man to depend on. Men aren't supposed to cry either. These certain characteristics start at a very young age. Boys are trained to be tough.
    -Toykia Meeks

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  13. Adam Baker...

    The man box is a box created by society more by men in society but also i think women have started to play a role in it too. The man box is how men are suppose to act in public whether that means they cant cry or express any negative emotions besides anger. These "negative emotions" are seen as something only women can do without get frowned upon by society. I think one of the more powerful stories was when his son was crying and he yelled at him for crying and told him to go into his room. This was such a norm for him to try and build up that inner toughness in his son instead of really caring for him.

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  14. The man box are rules that men have to follow in order for other men to respect them as a man. If they aren't followed, then other men can see you as weak, or somewhat of a feminine man. Men are suppose to be seen as the dominant sex and when the "man box" is questioned or not followed, you aren't seen as dominant or a strong leader. Men are taught at a young age how they need to act. They can't cry when they get hurt, they need to play sports, they can't play with girl toys, etc. We are teaching them to act in the way of the man box.

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  15. I have to agree with this men and taught to hold in their feelings and "act like a man". Men are expected to be strong, emotionless, and fearless this is how society including women want us. The don't look for a nerdy smart, intelligent guy. They prefer a tough, strong bad boy until society changes its view of what a man should be they will continue to be in a manbox.
    Andrew Bland

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  16. The man box is a set of rules that men have to foller in order to be considered a man and if they dnt live according to what is said that a man should be then he is seen as less then a man. And in society today men have a very high standard to live by and it is a lot of pressure for men and we today expect men to act like they are the dominate gender

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  17. The man box is an unwritten set of rules that men are supposed to live up to. They are supposed to be strong, emotionless, and powerful. Men have always though that they are to stronger than women and have control. Men are usually taught at a young age not to cry when they get hurt, but when girls get hurt they are nurtured more and expected to cry. Men feel they have to be presented as strong otherwise they will be made fun and not thought of as a true man.

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  18. The man box is the society's way of viewing a man. The box is filled with all the ideas of how a man should act and behave when in public. What it means to be a man is they cannot cry or show any emotions. Our ideas of how a man should be is unconventinal and should let them feel and be able to have them be emotional with out consequence.

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  19. The man box, do not show emotion especially around women, provide for your family, be a man (do not cry ever), because real man told cry, be tough, your the head of the family, women do not matter, they are just sex objects. Gender roles the man in the family provides everything for his family and the wife cleans and caters to the husbands needs. He teaches the son to be a real man (no crying) and the mother teaches the daughter to be a good housekeeper, wife and mother. We need a women's box to show the men in our life a thing or two...
    Michelle Weaver

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  20. The man box is everything men are supposed to be in the world. Men are not supposed to have emotions or be sensitive according to the man box. To be a man means to not cry, show emotion, treat women with respect only as objects according to the man box.

    -Abby Blan

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  21. To me the "Man Box" is his hard covering, his inner and outer shell. What protects him from feeling weak or like a woman, or less if man. It is set rules or shall I say myths that has been rammed into the minds of men that they can't show emotion other than anger, they can't cry, to them it's not right to cry. They always have to play the tough role, even it's not necessary. So, that's what I fell the "Man Box" is, just the outer and inner coverings of a man that he is only limited to show.

    ---Abena Trice

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