So....
I've decided on an alternate career, if opera doesn't pan out. I think I'd go back to school, get a degree in psychology, and research men.... ok.. hear me out.
So, I realized the books I've read on reactions to things like the Hook Up Culture and the obsession with Alcohol are from women's perspectives. Also, with issues such as domestic abuse, the sex trade, and date-rape stuff... women are also the focus (how to prevent it, how to get out of it, and how to save them). Why do we ignore the men's role in these situations? What has happened in their pasts to drive them to do horrible things and why are we, as a culture, so passive about analyzing them? There has to be things from their pasts that make them so insecure that they need to pay women to have sex with them, dominate woman, and in some cases harm little children.
We, as a culture, seem to simply write them off as "Bad Men" or "Mentally Disturbed" or "Screwed Up".. but what is behind it? Are there patterns that can be avoided?
And What about porn, alcohol and the hook up culture? How does it affect them in the long run? What really drives their need for all of these things? How do their relationships with their parents affect this? etc...
Maybe there is material out there about this.. and I'm gunna start looking... but for now, I need to stop procrastinating and study for my vocal ped test. *sigh* Possibly more on this later.
I'm loving the blog, Laura!
ReplyDeleteI actually did my senior thesis in undergrad on masculinity in America, and found it a very interesting topic to research. Gender studies is fairly well established now, but "men's studies" is still fledgling. There's stuff out there, but not much written from perspectives other than vehement feminism, which irritates me.
Best wishes on the ped test.