Manhood in America: A Cultural HistoryFree Press, 1996 - 544 pages In a time when psychologists are rediscovering Darwin, and much of our social behavioral is being reduced to ancient, hard-wired patterns, Michael Kimmel's history of manhood in America comes as a much needed reminder that our behavior as men and women is anything but stable and fixed. Kimmel's authoritative, entertaining, and wide-ranging history of men in America demonstrates that manhood has meant very different things in different eras. Drawing on advice books, magazines, political pamphlets, and popular novels and films, he makes two surprising claims: First, manhood is homosocial - that is, men need to prove themselves to each other, not to women. Second, definitions of manliness have evolved in response to women's movements. When women act, men react. Originally, manliness was an internal virtue and a democratic ideal - British men were viewed as fops, and American men had to be independent, honest, and responsible. By the 1890s, however, manhood changed to masculinity, something that had to be constantly proven through the new explosion of sports, fraternities, and fashion. Finally, in 1936, Lewis Terman, the creator of the IQ test, developed an "M-F" test to analyze adolescents' masculinity and femininity. Until well into the 1960s, the test penalized boys who preferred to draw flowers instead of forests, or who knew that a teacup was used for drinking tea. But just as Terman's categories and questions seem outdated to us, so will our own standards seem temporary to our successors. |
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Page 160
... girls were dressed . Prior to the 1880s little boys and little girls were dressed identically . Both wore what looked like white christening gowns during infancy and short , loose - fitting dresses in early child- hood — that is , boys ...
... girls were dressed . Prior to the 1880s little boys and little girls were dressed identically . Both wore what looked like white christening gowns during infancy and short , loose - fitting dresses in early child- hood — that is , boys ...
Page 161
... girls were not only wearing different clothes but playing with different toys . Toys were increasingly marketed as appropriate only for boys or for girls.9 One writer advised parents about boys ' fighting : There are times when every ...
... girls were not only wearing different clothes but playing with different toys . Toys were increasingly marketed as appropriate only for boys or for girls.9 One writer advised parents about boys ' fighting : There are times when every ...
Page 163
... girls destroyed their sexuality by sublimation . Studying too hard robbed them of their maternal capacities . Contem- porary education had it entirely backward . Rather than being sepa- rated , young boys were being forced to absorb girl ...
... girls destroyed their sexuality by sublimation . Studying too hard robbed them of their maternal capacities . Contem- porary education had it entirely backward . Rather than being sepa- rated , young boys were being forced to absorb girl ...
Contents
The Birth of the SelfMade Man | 13 |
SelfControl and Fantasies of Escape | 43 |
Captains of Industry White Collars | 81 |
Copyright | |
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