New Feature–I Respond to Readers’ Comments!
Submitted by The Boys and Schools Blog
Since we get some thought-provoking comments and questions here, I thought it would be a good thing to address them from time to time. So I’m hereby starting a new feature, called “Malia Responds to Blog and Site Comments and Questions.” Yes, I think the name needs a little work. Anyway, I’ll quote the first comment in full (unfortunately, it is unsigned, so I won’t be able to properly attribute it):
Don’t you disdain masculinity, at least in part? Isnt a part of contemporary American masculinity that men shouldn’t study hard, do well in school, exercise, or eat well? That they should play too many video games, kill themselves and one another? You seem to accept that in many cultures, if not ours, that masculinity involves opressing and mistreating women? You’re opposed to that as well, right? I think that to whatever extent Paglias believes about manliness actually form a coherent and rational belief system its one aimed at holding men back rather than actually helping them. So I wouldn’t pay too much attention to what she says.
Ok, there’s quite a bit here to answer, and as you may have guessed, it is in response to my recent entry about disdain for masculinity. I guess the easiest thing to do would be to reply to the questions in order.
1.) I don’t disdain masculinity at all because I see nothing worthy of disdain in it. We’re obviously arguing semantics here, but I associate the term with qualities (virtues even) traditionally seen as pertaining to men, such as strength, courage, aggression, boldness, and so on. (And now for my polically correct interjection–I by no means think that these qualities are limited to men–just that they’re the kinds of things I think of as associated with masculinity.)
2.) I don’t see any of these things as being part of, “contemporary American masculinity.” Rather, they seem like a list of common failings of modern American males, which is an entirely different thing. Well, except for the killing themselves and other people part. That is far more common than it should be, but I can’t really say that it falls in the same class as eating too much or playing too many video games.
3.) Actually, I’m not at all a fan of opressing women, what with being one myself, so clearly I don’t care for culture as an excuse for it. Nor do I see masculinity as inherently involving the oppression of women. Certainly, there are feminists who do see it that way, but my point was to take issue with this position. In fact, I tend to think of standing up for the oppressed on principle as a masculine virtue, though that may be streching things a bit.
4.) To be fair to Paglia, she has long been a critic of establishment feminism and its anti-male stance. If I may be permitted to display some geekiness, she hs actually written at length in praise of the creative masculine impulse, attributing much of the freedom and art in Western culture to male energy.
And now, for the second recent comment that I feel deserves a response:
Nice article! I honestly think peace in the Middle East will happen before the Ravens get a good quarterback…
Truth be told, I suspect that my husband is behind this one, but since it’s anonymous and he isn’t telling, I’m going to give it a fair hearing.
1.) Thank you.
2.) Unless you’re from New England, Green Bay, or Indianapolis, I don’t want to hear it. Like Derek Anderson is really going to take you to the Promised Land. And anyone who has ever had Vinny Testeverde start for their team has no right to talk.
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