1. What are the masculine and feminine ideals in the U.S.? Where does knowledge of both ideals come from?
The ideals of both sexes have been affected and influenced by many things, it is hard to find the one root of ideals for either sex. I believe that the largest influence on male and female roles in our society come from history. Also, the media has a very large part in the physical ideals of this nations' people. Historically speaking, men have been the bread winners of the family, they are expected to keep food on the table and support the family. Today men still strive to support their families, a man who cannot do this may feel like he is not fulfilling his duty. The media provides an image of men that is hard for the regular Joe to achieve. The ideal guy we see on TV is tall, stylish, wealthy, handsome, and muscular to boot. Any of these attributes can not be achieved overnight, some physically can not ever be attained. The media does a great job of skewing what a man really is giving it's viewers an impossible goal. According to history, women are supposed to have children and maintain the household. In the last one hundred years, the role of women has changed drastically. Women have broken away from the domestic housewife stereotype and are an equal part of society. Women work alongside men, and even above them, potentially making more money than their husband, being the principle money maker of the family. The media is especially harsh on women. The only women that appear on television are very thin, fit, and beautiful. The emphasis on being thin and being pretty is constantly forced onto women of our country, and all this pressure has led some girls to have eating disorders and other problems.
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4 comments:
I agree with what you said, on how our views on masculinity and feminity developed from our history. But do you think it's had changed over time now and now more shows include women and men of all sizs on TV shows, and are not excluding them like we did in the past.
I think as time progressed many people transitioned into the thought that everyone should be ableto express their thoughts through their clothing, and not have to follow what ma and pop did when they were that age.
Good points...I would say that the media has had an increasingly more powerful role in influencing our society. Eating disorders are serious and dangerous. When kids get pressure from their parents, that is a real problem.
Maybe Darwins survival of the fittest theory is relavent when asking how we develop our masculine and feminine ideals. The fittest doesn't mean how strong or fast one is, but their ability to procreate succesfully, and in attracting the opposite sex there are fundemental rules of attraction that have to do with biological traits fit for procreation and then you have the rules our culture sets which may be superficial but all the same play into our cultures way of looking at what is attractive.
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