The Popularity of Masculinity

They say the first post is always the hardest.

I have had a dawning realisation of late that "masculinity" has become somewhat an ill defined term in modern society. I figured some stream of consciousness writing will help me nut through it all so here it goes. Hope you enjoy:

I walk around and I see the withered shadow of what manliness has become. I see ratty looking guys trying to look tough and intimidating. In their head they have associated men with strength, but they have not realised what it truly means to be a Man. They wear their blokey shirts with slogans about how they don't take crap from anyone; they wear their muscle shirts; they talk loud and arrogantly; they try and portray an image of toughness and independence and by all this, they miss the whole point.

In decades past a man was something to be looked up to. A man was a person of strength in times of weakness; a person of perseverance and resolve in times of desolation. A man was someone who was self-controlled and disciplined. A man would deal with what life dealt him without complaint; without hesitation; without blaming others. A man would seek to help out those less fortunate. A man would provide for his family; he would help out with his friends; and would always be available to those who needed him, be they friend or enemy, without questioning when or why.

All in all - A man was someone who by his own deeds had earned respect.

Manliness does not come from the way we dress. It is not something that can be put on and taken off when needed. Manliness is part of who you are. Its as much a part of you as the air you breathe.

One of the things that stands out to me most of late has been listening to the change in music over the last decade. I'm often in social situations where I'm forced into listening to the latest gangster rap or emo "rock". When I think back over some of the classic manly musical acts of the last few decades (from Frank Sinatra to KISS to Guns and Roses to Cold Chisel), the lyrical topics that stand out are usually about how great the woman they are thinking of are and how much they love them; or to what lengths they would go to simply please her. When I listen to the music now playing, (rap) all I hear about is how the singer wants to bang as many "bitches" as he can; while getting "high" and owning a "dope ride"; or on the emo side - how sad they are that the girl likes someone else and it makes them want to cry.

How do you get these people to understand they have to MAN UP. What good will it do to be upset because you haven't gotten your way? How on earth do the rap artists manage to get any girls interested in them when they are constantly belittling the women they are with? Why is it that this is glossed over and seen as something good - something to be looked up to? Whatever happened to being unwavering in our masculinity - to take life as its dealt? There is no respect held for people who treat women solely as objects of gratification; who complain about all sorts of little things that hold no bearing in the long term. No respect is earned by these deeds.

Manliness is almost always accompanied by humility. A man does not seek rewards for feats accomplished. The feat itself is his reward. I see stories of heroics in the news where some Johnny Citizen has done something amazing and asked that his name not be published as he felt it was just his "duty" to do the right thing and he'd like to get back to his life. This brings warmth to my heart. I cannot express how great it makes me feel to know that I'm not holding on to the last bastion of manliness in this world.

I'm not advertising this blog to anyone; I'm not writing for any audience other then myself. I have lots going round in my head and figure this would be good way to nut it out and unravel it all. I have no idea where future posts will lead. I intend to take it as it comes.

If you do stumble across this and have any thoughts, please share. I'm keen to know what other people think.

Cheers,

Shifty.