The social, political and economical challenges questioned by feminists have provoked the designation of men and masculinity. Feminism suggests that what characterises men is “their power in relation to women”. Masculinity sets out suitable roles, values and expectations of men, the roles which have been played for many years are being analysed by feminists as to how these roles came about, and why their is such a difference between the two. Many have come to the conclusion that females are the oppressed sex of the two. Masculinity, feminists argue ‘cannot be understood without taking stock of social facts’. (Edley N& Wetherell M 1995). Susan Witt suggests that men are largely socialised into believing that certain characteristics are definitive in determining there manliness and masculinity. (Witt 1997).
The social character of masculinity is verified by the previous changes made to the definition of manhood, and the differences in masculine styles. The notion of the male “breadwinner” and female “housewife” has conjured up concerns of social inequality. Here feminists argue that one of the ‘main ways women have been subordinated is through the organization of society around a private world of domestic work and the public world seen as the province of men’. The idea of man being the provider indicates how men are more privileged in social advances and in sustaining the economic subordination and dependence of women. (Edley N& Wetherell M 1995). Liberal feminists suggest that if traditional prejudices, such as women staying in the household and being provided for were removed then such disparities would cease to exist.
As gender identity is becoming less important, more women are able to get better jobs, attain a high political status and most importantly a role in society without the many boundaries which were set before them in the early days. However statistics summarised by Susan Faludi suggest that women still do not have the same status men have in social and economical life. (Faludi, 1992) Statistics show that a constant pattern has developed where men take up jobs in ‘bureaucratic, professional and managerial elites, while women staff the service industries on the ground’.(Edley N & Wetherell M 1995). The concern here is that the notion of qualifications seems unimportant even in society today. Although men and women may have the same credentials, it is men who are attaining better jobs, again an example of an issue of high concern.
The extent to which masculinity has been portrayed contains the concept of such as patriarchy very much. Various views have been put forward as to what male domination exactly involves. One of the main concerns of feminists is the rules regarding domestic violence. The British Crime Survey suggests that many of the thousands of victims of domestic violence are women. Feminists highlight how, considering the level of violence liberal democracies put up with it should certainly ‘excite public outrage’.(Cf Hammer& H Maynard, 1987; Kelly 1988, Stanko, 1985). However, because violence is not understood in such a manner, specifies exactly how government procedures have been well thought-out from a male point of view. (Edley N& Wetherell M 1995).
Although legislation is there to assist individuals, to award them justice when required, feminists believe that those laws relating to women are far from just and unsuccessful in providing justice for women. They assert that the law is acting for the interests of men. Although the laws on divorce, children, inheritance and voting have given women more rights then they had in the past but there is still no equality. Elizabeth Stanco after much research argues that the difficulty of pressing charges for sexual assault indicates how women are inadequately supported by the law. Feminists argue that the continuous pattern of sexual violence is a ‘social practice that upholds types of male dominance’ (Elizabeth Stanco 1985)
Other feminists such as Catherine Mackinnon also contribute to how the law plays a huge part in women’s status in society. The laws regarding rape where women are seen as the real victims of male domination. The case of RVR highlights how the laws of rape were not incorporated in marriage. This strongly demonstrates the status women were given while these laws were compiled, as this is a basic human right, to say no to something one does not desire, yet women were not given the opportunity to do this. The argument put forward suggests that in order for sexist cultures to persevere, the prevailing manner of masculinity has to exist. Therefore feminists have been observant on the equality in rights and citizenship as women have been demoralized through the construction of society.
Women are battling against the stereotypes that they are only supposed to perform what is referred to as the feminine role. Although the word has become a place where women are able to follow there own desires and are free to pursue and activity without any of the boundaries which were put before them in early ages. Feminists are still working towards removing the stereotypes discussed in this essay.
‘Faces Of Feminism’ includes the different views of feminist theorists where the majority believe that men and women should be equal and in order for this to occur the society we live in has to “unlearn and condition” (Tobias, Shiela 1997) the gender roles and standards it has established throughout history.
The difference in roles, rights and opportunities ad the attitudes of society with regards to issues examined in this essay, has lead the feminists thought. It is no wonder that feminists have concluded that the male sex is at advantage, receiving higher prestige and concurring public life. Some feminists feel that they have been stripped of there rights, roles and responsibilities. Men enjoy privileges that women are deprived of, not due to any lack of understanding and capability but for the reason that they are women. Gloria Stiement and Betty Friedman have argued that “both men and women are oppressed and damaged by sexism and so reform is in the interest of both groups”. Therefore reform is inevitable, in order for feminists to feel that they are now as equal to men as they should be.
Numerous strategies have been employed by feminists to radically question the moderate and most common understanding of ‘men’ and ‘women’ and the social structures, which maintain gender differences and inequalities. Many of these ways including examples and relevant referencing have been described in this essay.
