Since 9/11

[Pythos]

Since this date of 2001, have you noticed a kind of regression of males in our society.

What I mean is, before this date I was noticing a sway toward the metrosexual (a term I dislike), or softer men. The macho man image was kinda petering out. Skirts and hose for men were getting more and more close to acceptance in the mainstream. I personally saw both men and women openly out and about in more form fitting exercise wear, the baggy sweats were being retired for the most part.

Then 9/11 happened.

I have since noticed a resurgence of the Macho man attitude.

I have actually heard women say "I love a man in uniform" a term I thought also was finally going into the depths of history.

People like Arnold Swartzenegger get into office. Eddie Izzard, the executive transvestite has to sign a contract that stipulates in order for him to continue working on the Riches he needs to drop the crossdressing. (that sickened me when I read that.)

Is it just me, or are we regressing? Are you all noticing any promising signs lately?

Is it all just in my head?

[Frédérique]

Yes, I’ve noticed it, but you have to be careful not to talk about political stuff around here (and it’s all political, in this context). The aftermath of 9/11 caused a tsunami of devastation along the beaches of gender blurring. To wit: “You’re either with US, or with THEM!” I know what’s going on – they (the powers-that-be, the purveyors of conformity) look around for excuses, and they point the finger at any weakness, real, perceived, or invented. This is no time to be a sissy, but you have to be, if only to balance the swing away from gender integration. I call it “gender agony,” a painful time to be on the other side of the fence, tending a beautiful garden that the aggressive world wants to plow under…:sad:

I’ll be glad when males stop looking as ugly as possible to put forth some ideal of male strength via appearance, but I seem to be alone in this assessment. This trend has been rolling along since 9/11 – definitely a macho male look, completely devoid of gentleness, expressing a desire to look as aggressive as possible regardless of what actually lurks within. I must say it wasn’t too different before 9/11, but now there’s hero worship thrown into the mix, along with a regression towards all things society tells you are “good” and ‘real.” Personally, I smell something fishy…:straightface:

The promising signs, outlining a parallel world where we are evolving and not regressing, are all there if you care to look where you’re not supposed to. For me, adopting a macho attitude is out of the question, regardless of the world situation of the past ten years. If the males who caused the problems in the first place would gain some sort of insight into their collective mistakes and act to correct them, we may actually get the human race (noticeably) evolving again. Meanwhile, I don’t think I’ll be carving my skin into colorful pre-determined patterns any time soon…:heehee:

[Sarah Doepner]

In a recent article in the Atlantic Monthy titled "The End of Men", http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/ it is suggested that men are becoming obsolete, particularly in the economy. Colleges are now seeing more women enrolled than men and those women are moving into a new work environment better equipped to succed than the men. The glass ceiling in business is being shattered both by women moving up and men being responsible for the collapse of the economy. Men decided to make a statement and attack the World Trade Center and other men decided to strike back resulting in wars in multiple countries. The recession has hit men harder than women with the greatest job losses in traditionally male dominated industries. Not only are more men unemployeed, but those who are working have more women for bosses than ever before.

All that has men on edge, worried and unable to communicate their distress. The traditional male response to that kind of pent up anger and frustration is the kind of chest pounding, knuckle dragging, macho display that you are talking about. Rather than attempt to develop communication skills, enhance nurturing or adopting those things that are making women successful, men are falling back on their strength and willingness to take risks (although the risk-taking lead to a big part of the problems we now face.) Any softening of the male persona will be seen as taking the side of women and accepting the situation of male failure.

Are men that unified in their beliefs and responses to changes in culture? I doubt it, but the fact is the male of the species has stopped being the majority party in advancing human survival. Women appear to be better equipped and more able to address the problems we are facing. I don't know where it's going but it could get very strange before everything settles down again.

[Jodi]

The 9/11 you are referring to was in 2001, not 2000.

Jodi

[BobbiU]

Prior to 9/11, I never noticed any movement of men in skirts or hose, and do not see men more macho today then prior to 9/11. I have always hear women say they "Love a man in uniform", in fact my SO just said a few times over the past month when my son enlisted in the Army. If we hear it more today, I doubt it's a macho thing, but more of a pride for our men AND women in the Armed services.

As far as people like Arnold, I think it's more of a popularity thing. Who does not like Arnold's movies, and nobody wants a career politician in office, so he was a good option.

If anything, I believe that acceptance for other lifestyles in more prevelient today, then every before. In our company for instance, which is a MAJOR wall street company, we not only have a black history month, womens month, but also a Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, Transexual month, where these members have meetings open to the whole company, and had support of the senior mgt. They, along with the other groups, even had a lunch gathering open to all, attended by many, and people from within and outside the groups brought in their favorite food, and shared with all.

So, IMHO, I do not see the trend occuring.

[juno]

I think things are overall still progressing towards more tolerance of diversity. There may be some people tending towards less tolerance after 9/11, but the majority seems to be going in the direction of tolerance. I'm sure there are a lot of regional variations.

[suchacutie]

My perception is that this newest generation is much more tolerant of a wide variety of lifestyle choices. I see it every 4 years as college classes change...every 4 years it is a little more tolerant, a little more interest in alternative possibilities.

That's not to say that 9/11 hasn't changed other things. The problems of lack of civility on college campuses has risen since 9/11 and is currently a major issue everywhere.

So, here we are with the most tolerant young adults, and some of the most frustrated young adults. Let's work toward dealing with our difficulties so that the tolerance can become preeminant!

tina

[kimdl93]

correlation does not imply causation. I would submit that men are regressing in terms of their roles as head of household (women now predominate), educational attainment, professional development, etc. Too many youth in this country are fixated on video games and adolescent sexuality, not enough on education, realistic career options etc. And evidence suggests that traditional "males" don't perform as well in the kinds of jobs that our society has to offer.

As for political discourse, I don't think the lack of civility is limited to college campuses. Really, the level of political discourse, for example, has probably never been very "high", but the prevalence of gasbags on talk radio and 24 hour news channels has added lots of heat and no light to debate. And honestly, the broader society is so fragmentted now - everyone can isolate themselves in their own little niche - within like minded virtual communities created within cable networks and internet - we have very few occassions for exchanging ideas with people who have different perspectives in a civil way.

And then, there's our one generally common experience - communting. Talk about an environment unintentially designed to foster rudeness and aggressiveness. How can one spend an hour or two a day in traffic without being changed, for the worse, by the expeirence!!!