Straight Men Are So Gay!

By Frederick Loew After reading Tom Maude-Griffin’s 2013 senior speech, “Balls, Balls, and More Balls!” I was left with not only a lasting impression of the hilarity of his speech, but also a deep feeling of connection with his words. His message was something I had been trying to put into words for years, “theContinue reading “Straight Men Are So Gay!”

From Courtier to Modern Man: Snapshots of Gender Roles throughout Time

By Daria Haner We can all agree that Western gender roles have changed vastly from generation to generation– from the proper Victorian lady of the house, to the stereotypical 1950s housewife, to the working woman today. However, I would like to explore how masculinity has developed over the generations, specifically in Europe and the UnitedContinue reading “From Courtier to Modern Man: Snapshots of Gender Roles throughout Time”

Using gender as a weapon

By Ella Deignan Lysistrata is an ancient Greek comedy by Aristophanes, originally performed in classical Athens in 411 BC. It’s a comic account of a woman’s extraordinary mission to end the Peloponnesian War between Greek city-states by denying all the men of the land any sex, which was the only thing they truly and deeplyContinue reading “Using gender as a weapon”

Redefining Masculinity- are you brave enough?

by Ella Deignan The social stigma of men’s masculinity, created and upheld by lockerroom talk, paternal pressures (mental+physical abuse), and women’s dependency on men leave many men with little space, internally and externally, to show vulnerability. In The Atlantic’s The Miseducation of American Boys, Peggy Orenstein writes on multiple factors that lead to boys definingContinue reading “Redefining Masculinity- are you brave enough?”

Dear Others, Stop Telling Me What to Wear: “My Little Black Dress Doesn’t Mean Yes.”

by: Catherine Zhang Dear Mom, When you pulled me aside yesterday as I left for school and told me that my V-neck sweater was too low, you spoke to me that my identity only existed in the sphere of how much I displayed my body. You, who told me everyday of my life how perfectContinue reading “Dear Others, Stop Telling Me What to Wear: “My Little Black Dress Doesn’t Mean Yes.””

Wealthy Women and Beautiful Men: Does Social Status Override Appearance?

by: Kelly Dayton Robert Bly’s “Iron John” discusses the relationship between status and appearance, and emphasizes the importance of presentation of the self. When the King’s son appears in the presence of royalty as the cook’s assistant, he is scolded for his sloppy appearance. Immediately, it is clear that the importance of looks is veryContinue reading “Wealthy Women and Beautiful Men: Does Social Status Override Appearance?”

Class and Gender: A Nuanced Intersection

by: Daria Haner When we speak about gender norms, we tend to do so through the context of our own lives or through those we are exposed to in the literature we read. However, we must understand that the intersectionality of class and gender plays a huge role in gender roles and what is expectedContinue reading “Class and Gender: A Nuanced Intersection”

DIY Social Change: Deconstructing Gender is an Individual Responsibility

by Frederick Loew Coventry Patmore’s 1854 poem Angel in the House proposed an idea of what women should be like and shaped the gender norms of Victorian society. Patmore used his wife as an example, showing the people of Great Britain that a woman should be devoted to the family and submit to her husband’sContinue reading “DIY Social Change: Deconstructing Gender is an Individual Responsibility”

Society in Chains: Gender Promotes Male Toxicity

by Sage Marmet Thomas Page McBee’s article Amateur: How Do I Reconcile My Masculinity With The Toxicity of Men unpacks the ever-prevalent toxic male culture in today’s society, provoking men to question their role–or lack thereof–in deconstructing their pedestal. Toxic masculinity is constantly perpetuated, and even normalized today: dress codes in schools teach young menContinue reading “Society in Chains: Gender Promotes Male Toxicity”