Man Box \'Men Are From

¶ … Man Box

'Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus' proclaims a popular line of self-help books. The differences between the genders have become such an ingrained social stereotype, even in the 21st century, they have become an industry. Gender stereotypes have long been criticized by feminists for forcing women to feel as if they have to place their needs and ambitions second to the males in their lives. Women are given the responsibility of being more nurturing, more compassionate, and to take more of an interest in what 'he' is thinking, rather than to speak about how they feel. The emotional toll upon women of this cultural compulsion has been well-documented. However, documentary the Man Box also prompts reflection on how this construction of the archetypically strong male may harm men emotionally and psychologically.

Men may be 'different' from women, but that does not mean they do not need support and affection, even Platonic affection, from other men. The documentary illustrates that men still have a desire for connections with others, contrary to the image of the autonomous, individual, unemotional male lionized in the media. Women have recently begun to protest the 'Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus' idea that they have to forego their need for a deeper connection with their partners, in light of the innate differences of the male mind and character. But although males may relate to one another in the world in more physical and less verbal ways, this does not mean that males are absent of emotions, even tender emotions.

The recent economic crisis has forced many men, now unemployed, to look beyond conventional male status symbols, such as being the breadwinner, when defining their identity. Rather than a threat to masculinity and male heterosexuality, expanding concepts of masculinity can make life more meaningful and less anxiety-provoking for males as well as females.

Reaction paper: The Soloist (2009)

When you walk by a person on the street that is homeless, the automatic reaction is to look away. However, journalist Joe Wright did not look away from Nathanial Ayers, a homeless musician who had once been a prodigy but eventually developed schizophrenia. Although schizophrenia runs in families, external social stresses can precipitate its outbreak in a vulnerable individual. This can be seen in the case of Ayers, who was an African-American cellist. He had come from a family where classical music was seldom heard or played. Being thrust into an all-white world where he was expected to succeed was too much for the vulnerable Ayers. He felt he had the fate of his race hanging above him, dropped out of Julliard, and soon was living on the streets.