User:Menmasc18

White Masculinity as a Culture
“White Masculinity” has now become a culture with its own discourse. This particular culture stems from the heteronormative “boys being boys” narrative that has manifested itself in our society through a long history of misogyny and white male power. Michael Kimmel’s book, Guyland, describes this lifestyle of “almost men” who are struggling to claim and perform their own stereotypical masculinities. Guyland is more than an idea or a label, it is a culture--a real place in which white masculinity dominates and is constantly in demand.

The basic rules of masculinity in Guyland exist around avoiding femininity and weakness at all costs, assuming the role of the “Gender Police” by evaluating others’ masculinity. In this culture of white masculinity, masculinity itself can never be permanently claimed, as no one person can possess the dominance for too long. Thus, masculinity is constantly controlled and vocalized by others. In this culture there is a constant need for a narrative with each interaction of masculinities. This discourse is evident almost everywhere: fraternities, sports teams, schools, and beyond.

In Angry White Men, Michael Kimmel describes a demographic of men who feel cheated by the system and the “way things are supposed to be.” A certain population of these men go on to commit terrible acts of violence--often seen as acts of redemption. It is no coincidence that these men identify as white and, thus, their white masculinity feels threatened. In the late 1960s, the traditional white male power was disrupted by events like the Civil Rights Movement, women’s liberation, and gay liberation. In the 80s a lot of singers and celebrities started to blur the lines of sexuality and masculinity which caused more anxiety in white men. Other developments such as shifts in the job markets or increasing racial diversity have also had these effects. Feelings of entitlement originate from the history of being a white male in America and in the world. This deeply rooted history revolves around feelings of dominance and superiority. These feelings of entitlement cause discontent and anger towards other genders and races when the system no longer benefits them exclusively.