Masculinity and The Pot of Stew

Last class we discussed in groups how masculinity has changed in today's society and America's "pot of stew."

So, first up to the plate, masculinity. In the reading for masculinity there were a lot of different ideas thrown around about how masculinity has changed, why it's changed, how it's changing. I, on the other hand, don't really feel like it has changed all that much. Yes, some guys to seem more feminine, metrosexuals,  but I feel like the majority of men still portray and hold tight to the thought of a rough and tough man.

Author "Henry James wrote in The Bostonians: 'The whole generation is womanized. The masculine tone is passing out of the world.It's a feminine, nervous, hysterical, chattering, canting age.'"

I could not disagree with that statement more. This is still a man's world. That's why they are still getting paid more. Why there hasn't been a women president. Why they still run almost all of the big companies. It's not a woman's world. Not even close. If it was, companies wouldn't feel the need to have to change things around for women...the fantasy baseball for women, where they pick "boyfriends, lame. It's a man's world and it's probably going to be that way for some time to come.

Next up, America's pot of stew...also known as the melting pot. I think the term, pot of stew fits American way more than a melting pot. We might all be Americans, but we are divided up by our ethnicity's.

In one of the readings I read for this week, the author points out that really only whites are seen as Americans. The rest of us are: Native American, African American, Mexican American, Asian American. You don't ever hear someone call themselves a German American, or Irish American. I think the author hits that point right on the head. You don't even here that, or see it when filling out paperwork. It's kind of ridiculous.

As long as there are separations like this, we are always going to be a pot of stew and not a melting pot. We all live in the same country, so we are all Americans. There is no need for differences....unless of course you, yourself, came here from another country. But for those of us born here, and whose families have been here for generations. There is no need for extras before the world American.