Our culture has been gradually eroding positive masculine role models. In an attempt to remove the toxic elements of masculinity, there has been a gradual erasing of masculinity altogether.
Masculinity cannot be removed or dissipated, only guided towards positive ends.
If positive masculine symbols are removed, a repressed, shadow masculinity arises. This is what we are seeing with the emergence of more nasty role models for young men.
I’m currently reading King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Douglas Gillette and Robert L. Moore. The book explores masculinity through the lens of Jungian psychology.
This passage got me thinking about the point I have addressed above:
In our view, patriarchy is not the expression of deep and rooted masculinity, for truly deep and rooted masculinity is not abusive. Patriarchy is the expression of the immature masculine. It is the expression of Boy psychology, and, in part, the shadow – or crazy – side of masculinity. It expresses the stunted masculine, fixated at immature levels.
Patriarchy, in our view, is an attack on masculinity in its fullness as well as femininity in its fullness. Those caught up in the structures and dynamics of patriarchy seek to dominate not only women but men as well. Patriarchy is based on fear – the boy's fear, the immature masculine's fear – of women, to be sure, but also fear of men. Boys fear women. They also fear real men.
Hi, could I please repost an excerpt ( exact quote verbatim of the first sentences of your article)on Instagram with your handle of course? I found your statement very much worth to be spread. Cheers CP
What would you consider an example of a positive masculine symbol/role model? And in what ways has this been undermined by “our culture” as you say?