| Stereotypes Of Men Essay, Research Paper
Stereotypes of Men
Both Scott Russell Sanders Looking at Women and Herb Goldberg s In
Harness: The Male Condition discuss the idea of stereotypes of men in today s
society. There is a distinction however, in the ways the author views these
stereotypes. Scott Russell Sander s essay portrays men as sex-crazed animals
and uses the protagonist to illustrate men s use of derogatory terms of men s
views of women, and even the tittle, Looking at Women suggests that men see
women as something to look at. Sanders essay builds on the stereotypes of
men by giving examples of men who fit these stereotypes. Goldberg, on the
other hand, believes that the stereotypes placed upon men today, restrain them,
and force them to follow a certain path in life blindly. He believes that men are
victims of the stereotypes of society, and spend their existence running from the
so called failure of being outside of the norm . These two essays discuss in
detail men s role in society, and the ways in which stereotypes affect men today.
The distinction between these two essays is in how the author views men;
whether they are the victims of stereotypes, or actually chauvinist pigs.
Scott Russell Sanders essay, Looking at Women, shows that men are rude
and sexist in the ways they regard women. The first example Sanders uses to
portray this is when he was young and sees a highschool girl with a good body.
His friend refers to the girls body as if it were a car part. This sexist attitude
progresses as Sanders goes to college and looks at the centerfolds of Playboy
magazines and even comments on the way women s humanity was severely
reduced by such actions. Sanders believes that men look at women as objects
and make judgements on their being before even examining their personality or
spirituality. Sanders wants men to change. He wants men to appreciate
women s inner beauty as much as they appreciate a women s outer beauty.
Rather than seeing women as sex objects or Barbie dolls he wants men to
appreciate women s natural beauty, without makeup and lingerie. Sanders also
believes that women contribute to their dehumanization Sanders does not
believe it is wrong for men to look at women, he just believes that they should
be looking for different things in women than the stereotypical man looks for.
He believes that men should break away from their stereotypical mold and treat
women with love and respect.
Goldberg s essay focuses on the idea that stereotypes of men dictate their
lives. He feels that societal stereotypes dictate their roles in work, love, and
families. He believes that men are victims of society. Goldberg says that
society s expectation for men to be masculine keeps them from getting in
touch with their emotional self. He believes that men s fear of acting weak or
gay causes them to do things simply to fit with the mold of men today. The
fact that women can be admired for being either masculine or feminine supports
Goldberg s idea that men are oppressed by their stereotypes also. Women can
break the mold of society and still be admired. Rather, the stereotypes of
women are more inclusive of different lifestyles than the stereotypes of men.
Like Sanders essay, the title of Goldberg s essay has significance in his view of
men in society. The word harness illustrates the restraint put on men to admit
their problems, and be in touch with their feminine side. This word is used by
Goldberg to describe his patient Richard who was nearly killed by his drinking
problem. Richard had to get sick in his harness and nearly be destroyed by role
playing masculinity before he could allow himself to be a person with his own
feelings, rather than just a hollow male image. Goldberg believes that men
don t yet realize the consequences their conformity to societal stereotypes will
have on their emotional self. Stereotypes act as harnesses that stifle men today.
The issue of men in society is broad enough to be encompassed in both
Goldberg s and Sander s essays. While Goldberg would like men to be freed
from their need to conform to the stereotypes of men, Sanders would like men
to break from the mold themselves. The greatest distinction between these
essays is that the authors believe that the power to break away from societal
stereotypes is in different parties. Goldberg believes that men are the victims
while Sanders believe that men provoke the stereotypes placed on them. Both
authors believe there is a need to change these stereotypes. Goldberg wants
society to be more accepting of men s different lifestyles and individuality.
Sanders wants men to strive to find their individuality and get in touch with their
emotional self.
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