Why Are Men So Different??

NWACUHO 2010

Chuck Rhodes

Sonoma State University

Session Outline

• What are your expectations & introduction– 5 minutes

• Session Presentation – 20 minutes

• Small Group Discussion – 15 minutes

• Report Back – 10 minutes

Learning Outcomes

• Participants will develop an understanding of theories related to transition from adolescence to manhood.

• Participants will start examining the campus climate for men at their institution.

Benchmarks

• The general social benchmarks for reaching adulthood:– Completing one’s education– Getting married– Settling into one’s career– Leaving their parents home

Benchmarks

• Changes in percentages of populations that has reached these benchmarks:

1960 2000

Men 65% 31%

Women 77% 46%

When a boy becomes a man

• In the US this process has always been two tracts:

• Working class men

• Upper-middle and upper class men

When a boy becomes a man

• For working class men, they often learned their trade under the ‘apprenticeship’ of adult men – whether in agriculture or industrial. Until the 1930’s, the average age the men entered the work force was 16.

When a boy becomes a man

• Beginning in the 1930’s, laws of majority were codified in most states. It became generally accepted that the age one gained legal rights was 21. A man could enter into legal contracts, vote, buy alcohol, etc. There were some exceptions by states.

When a boy becomes a man

• The peace time draft began in 1940 and extended until 1973. The military, under the supervision of adult men became the ‘country’s largest fraternity.’ The men became the socializing vehicle to working class men.

When a boy becomes a man

• Until post World War II, the majority of colleges and universities were predominately white, male, and for the upper-middle and upper classes. In addition to training for a profession; colleges had the role of teaching morals, values and character. It was to prepare its graduates for his role in society.

• The college acted in the place of parents (adults) in socializing its students – in loco parentis.

When a boy becomes a man

• A variety of social and cultural changes starting in the 1960’s –– Masses of men and then women entered into the

college and university system.

– Ending of the draft , which has been the nation’s largest fraternity.

– The various social justice movements

– Changes in demand for masses of workers.

– Change in the age of majority to 18

The result is there is no longer a clear definition of when a boy becomes a man

When a boy becomes a man

• The term adolescence was first used in 1904.• The first book in the Peter Pan series was

introduced in 1902.• Jung and others began research on puer

aeternus in the 1930’s• While there were some books, little attention was

given to the teen years until the 1950’s.• Marie-Louise von Franz wrote the first major book

on this topic in 1981• 1983 – Dan Kiley wrote the book the Peter Pan

Syndrome.

What men learn in college – Harris & Struve

• Democracy– Opportunities for men to connect with men of

other races, orientations, and classes.

• Patriarchy– Men set the standards to behavior among

students on campus

• Competition– There is intense competition among men in

sports, who one dates, video games, & alcohol consumption.

Guyland - Kimel

• There are three culture dynamics for Guyland– A culture of entitlement – guys are entitled to

have toys, sex, rewards without having to earn them or assuming responsibility.

– A culture of silence – men do not ‘narc’ on other men even when they break the law.

– A sense of protection – parents and other respond that ‘good boys, white boys’ are entitled to protection.

What is Guyland

With extended adolescence, Guyland With extended adolescence, Guyland is defined as the ‘boyhood’ side of the is defined as the ‘boyhood’ side of the continuum that we are reluctant to continuum that we are reluctant to leave. It’s drinking, sex, video games. leave. It’s drinking, sex, video games. It’s playing, reading, talking about It’s playing, reading, talking about sports. It’s television and movies. sports. It’s television and movies.   Guyland evolves almost exclusively Guyland evolves almost exclusively around other boys. It’s a pure around other boys. It’s a pure homosocial Eden uncorrupted by the homosocial Eden uncorrupted by the sober responsibilities of adulthood.sober responsibilities of adulthood.

What is Guyland

•The socialization process begins pre-The socialization process begins pre-high school.high school.•Hazing and violence is used to make Hazing and violence is used to make boys conform to the norms.boys conform to the norms.•““Bro’s before Ho’s – a pattern of Bro’s before Ho’s – a pattern of using women as objects.using women as objects.•Geeks, nerds, gays, are not Geeks, nerds, gays, are not welcomed in Guyland.welcomed in Guyland.•Women often engage in high risk Women often engage in high risk behavior in order to get the approval of behavior in order to get the approval of men.men.•Upper middle and upper income men Upper middle and upper income men continue to set the standards for continue to set the standards for Guyland.Guyland.

What What opportunities do opportunities do

men have to men have to explore their explore their

maleness on your maleness on your campus?campus?

What What opportunities do opportunities do

men have to men have to express their express their

maleness on your maleness on your campuscampus

What can be done What can be done differently on your differently on your

campus/ campus/ department/ hall to department/ hall to

support positive support positive male role male role

development?development?