The purpose of this discussion is to begin making connections across the various texts we’ll encounter in this first unit.
Instructions: In a post of four sentences or more, respond to the following question:
Which specific idea connects Clemens to Cunnell?
In other words:
Select one key specific idea from one text and explain how it connects to another idea found in the other text.
You may quote or paraphrase the ideas from the texts, but be sure to relate one specific idea to another specific idea found in the other text, rather than relating the texts on general ideas. For example, don’t just say that both authors discuss gender issues.
1. Toxic masculinity relates to societal standards and expectations that men should always be dominant, aggressive, unemotional, and in control. It can take the form of harmful behaviors, including bullying, sexual harassment, and domestic abuse, as well as attitudes that prevent men from expressing vulnerability or seeking help when they are in need. This can be dangerous for men as well as the people around them. It may also contribute to the propagation of harmful stereotypes and prejudice towards women and other marginalized groups
2. In “Violence Against Women,” Katz argues that when gender violence is referred to as a “women’s problem,” it frames the issue as something that only affects women rather than recognizing it as a societal problem that affects everyone. By doing so, it minimizes the gravity and extent of the problem, as well as places the responsibility on women to solve it rather than holding perpetrators and society accountable. Katz suggests that this mindset is part of the problem and prevents progress from being made in addressing gender violence. Instead, Katz advocates for recognizing that gender violence is a men’s issue that requires men’s active engagement in working to end it.
Summary of Violence Against Women
Jackson Katz claims that women who attempt to discuss issues of violence are frequently
criticized for doing so. They are referred to negatively and accused of hating men. Katz argues that isn’t your silence a form of consent? It implies that if you witness sexual assault and say nothing about it, aren’t you actively encouraging it? On a micro level, there are several ways we can reduce the frequency of sexual assault in our culture. One option is to urge others close to us, such as friends and family, to speak out or discuss sexual assault. Katz explains that everyone is impacted by the misogynistic and violent masculine society. Domestic violence and sexual abuse often the offenders, and this “gives men an excuse not to pay attention.” The reason we don’t scrutinize offenders’ conduct as carefully as we do victims’ behaviors has its origins in how society perceives powerful groups.
1. According to Clemens, toxic masculinity is a narrow and repressive description of manhood, designating manhood as defined by violence, sex, status and aggression. It is considered as the cultural ideal of manliness where strength is everything while emotions are considered to be weak, whereas sex and brutality are the sticks to measure men. Emotional vulnerability to simply not being hypersexual is considered as feminine traits.
2. Cunnel argues that traditional ideas of masculinity are poisoning our society;there is another way. Cunnel explains how he once thought that he must be tough and violent to be a man, but after reading the Budhist writings of Thich Nhat Hanh, he began to think about the kind of masculine heroes that are portrayed in Western culture. Cunnel states that there are multiple ways to be masculine- there is no such thing as essential fixed masculinity. You can choose to be either peaceful or angry, to love or to hate. People are the results of their thoughts and actions and indvidual men express and contain multiple ways of being. He emphasizes that one does not have to be tough or violent to be masculine. People change often during their lifetimes.
