I found last weeks class....disturbing, to say the least. Watching "The Bro Code" documentary was definitely an eye-opener, if not more. I can't say how valid it is for the men I know in my life, but it did raise some very interesting points about what society is pushing for the men of today to become.
Without re-hashing the entire video I will say I see a lot of unfortunate truths that were pointed out in the video. It does seem we are feeding a very narrow image of what a man should be, like, and expect out of life. The whole 'sex, beer, and violence' isn't a new ideal for men but it does seem to be elevating to new heights with the progression of media and advertising.
It's unfortunate because it's everyone who suffers from this ideal. Out of pride men are encouraged to act a certain way, think a certain way, believe a certain way, and I just think that ideal is so narrow it closes them off to some of the great things offered in life. If a man is encouraged to never share his feelings, then how can he come to know the strong bond that can come in a relationship. How can he know that building his wife up and supporting her, instead of tearing her down with the predictable misogynistic comments, can lead to a more unified, happier, stronger marriage. And as women, we are so desperate for these walls to be taken down yet we have come to expect them. And in some cases, re-enforce them. Because we too fall victim to the expectations. I think we are by nature more nurturing and family-oriented and this gets exploited into believing if we do not meet all the needs of our spouse or family we are somehow failures. Or if we are not sexual and submissive then again, we are somehow less desirable women.
In either case standards are being set for us by a media that cares nothing about us beyond our wallets and it's not until we are made aware of it and the flaws of this thinking than we can change these idiotic ideals.
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