RA #3
Title: “Bros Before Hos”: The Guy Code
Author: Michael Kimmel
Date: 7 November 2012
Topic: The teaching of masculinity in America. How boys are molded from a young age to be men, by forms of harassment, teasing, and peer pressure from parents, relatives, friends, teachers and society.
Analysis of Argument:
Exigence: Kimmel explains the pressures young boys experience and the expectations as they grow to manhood. How men are pressured by their own peers to prove their masculinity. There is a relentless sense of having to show ones “manly” behavior. Expected at all times by your own friends and peers to adhere to” The Guy Code”, while your fellow men are ready to call you on your short comings at the first sign of weakness.
Intended Audience: Men, women, parents, educators, sociologists, psychologists and scholarly audiences would take interest in this subject matter.
Purpose: The purpose of Kimmel writing is to bring to light the confusing expectations we place on boys and men in our modern society to be viewed as acceptable men.
Claim: “Boys are more prone to depression, suicidal behavior and various other forms of out of control behaviors than girls are. No wonder boys drop out of school and are diagnosed as emotionally disturbed four times more often as girls, get into fights twice as often, and are six times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADHD (616-17).”
Evidence: From young influential ages boys are told not to cry, no sissy stuff, play like a boy, no complaining, take it like a man, etc. As they reach adulthood the messages from peers evolve to, “It’s better to be mad than sad, Don’t get mad-get even, Take it like a man, He who has the most toys when he dies, wins, Just do it, Size matters, Don’t stop to ask for directions, Nice guys finish last, and It’s all good.” These are typical expectations put on men in our society. Then there are the unspoken signs of femininity such as showing emotion, wearing feminine colors, being well dressed, participating in feminine activities and hobbies like art, music, design, shopping, fashion and certain grooming habits.
Writing Strategy #1: Cause and Effect
Writing Strategy #2: Description
Writing Strategy #3: Exemplification
Reader Effect #1: The author looks at the typical lives and situations of boys from men describing their upbringing in terms of peer pressure in regards to the “The Guy Code” rules. Then summarizes the paper with the scientific and social effects these expectations have placed on boys and men as a result.
Reader Effect #2: Kimmel describes the specific Guy Code and Boy Code rules that are directly and indirectly expected to be adhered to by boys and men.
Reader Effect #3: The author quotes previous writings on the same subject matter by other well known authors. He also conducts some his own research in his classrooms, asking his students their feelings, experiences and opinions on the subject.
My Response: I really enjoyed this writing. It seems to be a subject that doesn’t get much attention. Almost like it’s swept under the rug in our society. The idea of gender as we think of it is solely a social construct, born into existence by the pressure of tradition and the supremacy of the majority. This is true for our perceptions of "masculinity" and "femininity", and this point is driven home in "Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code." Michael Kimmel points out the stereotypes men are taught to believe make them more manly. According to his interviews with various men from all over the country, the male social facade was put upon them by fathers, grandfathers, coaches, older brothers and other significant male role models as young boys. This paper has given me an understanding of why men relate to certain situations the way they do.
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