Why is Manhood Everything?

    Judy Hilkey's "Manhood is Everything: The Masculinization and Democratization of Success" seems to be a summary of facts that we have already discussed in class. Being manly is associated with power, vigilance, willpower, and perfection. The reaction I am left with is: Obviously! Men have been in power for millennia. In order to retain this superiority in government and in the personal sphere over women, there naturally had to be stereotypes readily available that stressed that men were physically and intellectually superior over their female peers. Some females, being constantly subjected to these types of thoughts for as long as they have been able to comprehend them, believe them. The period the author discusses most is the 19th century, a time of westward expansion for America, industrialization for Europe, and monarchial rule for much of Asia. The move west required willpower and strength, and it was naturally stressed that men take the lead of these excursions as many left their families in search of wealth. Industrialization represented the apex of manhood; As men thought of new and more effective ways to produce and manufacture, women were left in the sidelines, many forced to take on menial roles as laborers. Monarchial rule, too, is reflected traditional gender roles. Women rulers were often pegged as ineffective, as China's empress Cixi is often cited as the reason for the downfall of monarchial rule itself.
      There are surely exceptions to these statements. However, I believe that these stereotypes were, and often are, still in existence as a way to retain the status quo. As much of the world has yet to see a female ruler, it is clear that these preconceptions are hard to shake. Many women still assert that they want a "manly" partner; Harlequin romance novels still sell by the millions, selling the image of a man as a rugged cowboy, his muscles tearing from his wifebeater and he saves the powerless woman from her conundrum. For any one group to be in power, another has to be submissive. Women, though gaining power, still hold that position. The Washington Monument in Washington D.C. still stands as one of the most phallic structures in the world. As pointing out these facts is essential for anything to change, I think that the excerpts Hilkey included acted as a humorous, eye-roll inducing reminder of the culture that we still reside in that has disturbingly not changed very much from the documents that were published over 100 years ago.