I enjoyed you piece in Dame Magazine. Except that my hair is not kinky, I suspect that our place in teen social life was similar.
The people preaching about the importance of masculinity often conflate two aspects in their definition. Protecting, procreating (which is optional), and providing are not masculine traits, they are grownup traits. Being a grownup means protecting and providing for children, elderly, and the wider community, because you are an adult and can. Your gender doesn’t matter. Adult men and women are on equal footing in this regard. The rest of “masculinity,” six-pack abs and golf swings, is just the battle to be cock of the walk. They desperately want their great plumage to make them the to top animal in the barnyard, and are very threatened when their display is ignored.
I also think part of being an adult is having others protect you and provide for you though! Like, everyone needs others to care for them at some point; part of toxic masculinity is the idea that you always need to be the protector/provider and never the one having others help you out.
The AI poem- it got me. I feel it encroaching, trying to pick up little tasks here and there. It’s probably doing far more than I’m aware of. I keep fighting though.
I enjoyed you piece in Dame Magazine. Except that my hair is not kinky, I suspect that our place in teen social life was similar.
The people preaching about the importance of masculinity often conflate two aspects in their definition. Protecting, procreating (which is optional), and providing are not masculine traits, they are grownup traits. Being a grownup means protecting and providing for children, elderly, and the wider community, because you are an adult and can. Your gender doesn’t matter. Adult men and women are on equal footing in this regard. The rest of “masculinity,” six-pack abs and golf swings, is just the battle to be cock of the walk. They desperately want their great plumage to make them the to top animal in the barnyard, and are very threatened when their display is ignored.
I also think part of being an adult is having others protect you and provide for you though! Like, everyone needs others to care for them at some point; part of toxic masculinity is the idea that you always need to be the protector/provider and never the one having others help you out.
You’re right. Super stoicism takes its own toll.
The AI poem- it got me. I feel it encroaching, trying to pick up little tasks here and there. It’s probably doing far more than I’m aware of. I keep fighting though.