Current Protests

While I have veered from the subject of Male Stereotypes quite frequently, I believe male stereotypes are impacted by matters of race as well. Some men in the Black community are often discriminated against as seen with George Floyd. There is no denying that what was done was wrong and should be punished. However men today so strongly feel the need to provide that they have come to looting as their solution.

Stealing s not justified for their families. Although I recognize the need to provide is an immense pressure placed upon men in society, it is no justification for illegal activities. We must all condemn this in addition to the officer's discrimination against George Floyd. Due to all this, my family and I are concerned about our safety when going outside. I have even seen stores of family friends getting destroyed on the news. We must all come together to stop these acts from continuing.

White Privilege in the Job Market

White privilege’s impact on the job market has been felt for centuries. White privilege is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “inherent advantages possessed by a white person on the basis of their race in a society characterized by racial inequality and injustice”. Its roots in the United States can be traced to the 17th century with the advent of slavery. After fighting in the Civil War for their freedom, Blacks were introduced to a new form of maltreatment with sharecropping. Similar discriminatory actions continued legally until Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Despite this law and continued efforts by the government, discrimination against Blacks in the job market has been proven by studies over fifty years later. Efforts were further made with the Kerner Report in 1967, citing White racism as the cause of Blacks’ lack of economic opportunity. Despite attempts at support for the Black community in legislation, it has failed to revert centuries of White privilege, resulting in the perpetuation of de facto discrimination.

Able-bodied Privileges

I have never placed much thought into my ability to walk from place to place. In school, I’m able to use my hands to type an essay, give my teachers a high-five, or do push-ups in PE. It wasn’t until my friend had broken his wrist that I had realized my able-bodied privilege. Going to the gym had become impossible for him. Taking a shower had become a daunting mission to undertake. Even eating had become an awkward ritual where the utmost focus was needed to guide the food correctly.

As horrible as the situation was, he was able to recover—a luxury not available to all disabled individuals. Although able-bodied privilege is easy to notice, it is just as easy to ignore. People tend to ignore those with disabilities as it makes them uncomfortable. Rather than take the time out of their day to support these individuals, it is easier to ignore them. I have made it my goal to see the able-bodied privilege in my day-to-day life, attack how society avoids the issue at hand, and utilize any possible solutions to help those in need.

Male Stereotypes Between Racial Lines

We've all heard about George Floyd's murder. An officer put his knee to the man's neck, causing him to die. Although most are looking at the more obvious racial discrimination taking place, it is important to also see the male stereotypes that take place here. Men are often seen as strong, and so complaining is seen as weakness and disregarded. When Floyd said that he wasn't able to breathe, it was subsequently ignored as a result. In addition, the officer wanted to show that he was in power. he did this by putting Floyd in danger and then killing him.

This is seen as 'manly' as it shows that the officer is 'stronger' than Floyd. Similar to how people go to the gym so that they can appear more manly, this is exactly what the officer did. The death of Floyd is quite disgusting to watch and makes me disappointed that an officer would do that. Watching the video is difficult, but I feel essential in understanding the similar plights between racial and sexual lines in society.

Current Events

It's Memorial Day! Millions of Americans go on to celebrate the day that The United States as we now call it separated from the British. Although some disregard the holiday and simply call it a day off, it does seem to be a male-dominated holiday. Men tend to come together and barbecue during this time of year. We are able to usually see commercials dominating our TVs about Memorial Day sales, but this year is different than the rest.

Instead we have seen a shift from our barbecues and sales. People have begun to come together amidst this time of worry. Although it is horrible that such a tragic event is the one bringing us together, it is nice to see the cooperation amongst all people. We must make sure to continue this trend into the future: supporting our hard workers at risk, placing the needs of the minority as important, and keeping ourselves safe. Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to support others.

Privilege Further Explored

I have come to realize a few faults in the study conducted that I analyzed the previous week. While I initially saw it as incredibly thorough, I have come to realize how the study 'whitened resumes' to be bad. Resumes had been whitened by changing ones employment from 'Engineering Union' to 'African American Engineering Union'. Those who had just written 'Engineering Union' were hired at a significantly higher rate than their counterparts. While initially I took this as a factual demonstration of the de facto discrimination facd by minorities, I have new thoughts on the study itself.

I have come to believe that this choice was justified. I don't think there is anything wrong with choosing workers from a diverse organization over a racially exclusive one. In addition, being president of a larger union with people of all races should be seen as more valuable than being in charge of only one specific race. There is nothing wrong with wanting someone of diverse experience in alarger group. If there are any identifiable discriminatory acts against African Americans, then I believe action needs to be taken. However, in regards to this, it is not as apparent.

Privilege

We've all heard of White Privilege. It's the notion that a White man is in a more advantageous position as a result of his skin. Earlier this week, I read a study describing the discriminatory action in the hiring practices of businesses across the country. Resumes were sent to 1,600 employers, varying between some with Asian and Black groups in their prior experience. Those with 'whitewashed' resumes often got hired more than those showing their true identity. This truly appalled me to read, as the study was conducted extremely thoroughly.

However I have an issue with White Privilege. While I do admit that the notion does have merit in some forms, it leads others to place the blame on White people for their misfortune. This does nothing to help solve the issue. While it is acceptable to recognize this problem, placing blame on an abstract concept or group does nothing to help. The best solution is to tackle where the issue stems from and solve them on an individual basis. Similarities can also be drawn to Male Privilege.

Stereotypes in Japan

Japan similarly has strong stereotypes for men. Much of the society there is patriarchal. This of course affects both men and women. A prime example of this happened only a few days ago. Osaka's mayor in Japan suggested that men should go shopping during the pandemic because "are indecisive and take a long time" when buying products. Stereotypes like these affect all people in Japan negatively and lead to the perpetuation of poor stereotypes for all. Though this example isn't particularly dangerous for everyone, it serves as an example for how simple a stereotype can be.

These type of remarks should be avoided, especially by someone in a position of power. They need to maintain a good representation of the ideal citizen. I will always make an effort to not spread stereotypes. People around the world need to make an effort to contribute to society as well.

Sexual Assault

With Sanders no longer in the running, Biden is the Democratic candidate facing Trump. News of his sexual assault allegation so far are not being reported on by most news sources. This of course leads to the question: how should sexual assault cases be handled?


It seems rather obvious to me. The Constitution states that no person shall be “deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law”. Unless these allegations have merit in the form of concrete evidence, how can they result in any indictment? With the rise of the #metoo movement throughout the world, men have become the victims of millions of accusations. Those that have proof should obviously be recognized, but those without can be seen as slander. Publicizing Biden's accusations without any evidence would just be harming his reputation. We cannot allow the government to infringe on our Constitutional rights.

Men Today

Amidst this pandemic, men still face the same struggles that have been present the past centuries. Men are expected to work and make money for their families. Many of them now lack a job due to the current situation. Many men are so used to working constantly, that going through their day to day routines without working comes as bizarre. However, things seem to be looking up for all families.

While men are worried about less money for their families, laws are currently being enacted to support these working families. The hope is that apartment rent, mortgages, and all other debt will be frozen during this pandemic as myriad are placed in difficult situations. It would be unfair to freeze only one of these without the other, so the only viable solution seems to be to freeze the whole economy. This will allow men to stop worrying about supporting their family financially. In turn, fathers are able to support their family by simply being there for them.

Child Care

When most people think of the primary caregiver for any child, the mother is immediately the first person to come to mind. Women are always viewed as more caring than their male counterparts. This only enforces the male stereotype that men must be distant from their own children. This leads to a divide between a child and their own father. Men in general are looked down upon when it comes to care-giving in any situation

When men are seen alone with their daughters in the park, this immediately arouses suspicion. A man should be able to spend quality time with their children, without fearing the glares of those around. While myriad women are paid maternity leave when their child is born, men are not. Their should be paternity leave so that both sides are equal. The child is just as much the fathers as it is the mothers. This must be equal in order to ensure a strong bond between a child and their father.

Earning Money

Earning Money

When deciding what to study, the first question men always have to ask is "how will we make money from that?" This puts immense pressure on men to be the breadwinners for their families. Our parents always push us to be lawyers, engineers, and doctors but that isn't what we all desire. This leads to an inner conflict within ourselves that we must inevitably shut down. But luckily we have begun to see change within today's society

Both men and women today are working to support their families. This is a fantastic change from the past. However it does bring into question another male stereotype: who will take care of the children? This question will be answered in one of the upcoming blog posts, as we attempt to determine the ties between the stereotypes that face men.