You Know
It sounds strange, but I believe that as a society we are starting to a shift to male uselessness. I’m starting to feel like men are in general looked down upon. Its hard to pinpoint because of several counter-examples and inconsistencies, but I’m seeing a definite trend in the distaste of men.
Maybe its not always that extreme, but there is definitely a kind of reduction of importance of males. I’m not saying that men are necessarily more important, but I’m seeing many situations where we are culturally reduced to a state of childishness, or a kind of pet; I minor nuisance.
A typical, politically correct way of describing men, a typical Tyra Show or Oprah way would be to describe them as simple, unattuned to social queues, shorter tempered, territorial, and somewhat stupid. In popular media we are often described in disparaging tones. Many jokes on talk shows revolve around “My man is soo dumb, I love him though”.
Magazines come out with articles describing the best ways to please men, and after reading, I often feel trivialized. Many of the strategies themselves feel like they’re promoting dis-ingenuity, when they describe ways to dupe a man into a better love life. Of course those reading are not themselves disingenuous; they probably have the best intentions, but I don’t feel these types of articles are written from a proper place.
I worry about my future as an individual because it is not socially acceptable for a middle class white male to be unhappy with the way he is treated. But I cannot deny that, not the way those close to me, but the way popular culture, perceives my gender disturbs me. I believe it comes from the same place for me that it came for women in the 50’s. I want to be able to look at the popular media in the world and not come away with a feeling of imperfection, or that those around me are secretly unhappy with me, or that somehow, I am destined to be a certain way, simply because of my gender.
