Gender: masculine

1.0.14

Living as a man without destroying life

Even the seemingly gender-less English, that does not divide objects and ideas into two or three gender categories,

Being a man and not being considered a man. Living in a male body, but with a spirit (perspective) of both man and a woman. Lost between natural effeminacy and cultural straight-acting. Moving around the male spaces inconspicuously, but yet unwelcome. The struggle with masculinity seems to be gay men's special manly quest, but their straight peers don't escape it either.

Chapter: 2 What does it mean being straight man?

Heterosexuality was invented along the homosexuality - to shift the understanding of attraction from a matter of sin to matter of natural variance. The notions of masculinity are changing similarly. From the ancient warriors, through sophisticated gentlemen, to the contemporary role models of equal partners to women and queer peers. The awareness of fluidity of male cliches challenges the "ancient archetypes".

Chapter: 3 The high art of becoming a man.

Boys dream of becoming men - as soon as possible, as mighty as it gets. Successful, winning, acknowledged, honored, celebrated. Although, the childish dream of masculinity does not embrace maturity. And perhaps, the man is actually becoming a boy - according to other kid's criteria. Proving, confirming and improving the invented ideal. Fairy tales about heroes who travel the world to kill the dragon and win.

Chapter: 4 Characteristics of masculin(ist) thinking.

Being manly is a challenging performance. Walk like a man ... in a heavy armor. Talk like a man ... with suppressed feelings. Act like a man ... with all eyes focused on him. The surviving essentialist notions of what it means being a man disassembled. Instead of beer, football and chicks - take a breath, make yourself comfortable and relax - observing those who judge you for a moment. Look at your own kind from above.

Chapter: 5 The environmental boot-print of machismo.

All the problems of this world converge. Maybe we can't agree if towards the human nature, or the persisting and pervasive culture - but surely the surviving definitions of masculinity, manly behavior, male tasks and pleasures - play a significant part in the disaster in making. How does the archetypal Patriarch treat Mother Nature? How does the objectified ecosystem thrive. Who will repair the toy when it breaks? Can we take the manly detachment from the cliches of our own malehood?