Male Roles in America: Tradition vs. Modern Expectations

Introduction: A Changing American Landscape

The United States is more complicated than it was just two decades ago. The definition of family has changed and, with it, the roles of family members have been redefined. Men and women who were born to baby boomers are now in their twenties and thirties and are attempting to find their place in an American landscape confused by single-parent households, multiple marriages, step-siblings, and unmarried parents (Lindsay, 2005). In this confusion, men in particular have emerged as a group whose role — both as individuals and within the family — is no longer clearly defined.

Since the mid-1980s, men have responded to this uncertainty by adapting to the equal rights and feminist movement and to the changing times around them. Men are more often found staying home with children, earning less than their female counterparts, and sharing financial and social decisions with their wives or girlfriends (Lindsay, 2005). Despite this, many people still hold onto outdated feelings about the roles of men. This places extreme pressure on men, whose place in today's America seems to be that of bridging the gap between adaptation to equality and a subconscious desire for traditional roles.

Biological Differences and Social Roles

Men and women will always have different roles, due to women's natural ability to reproduce and men's greater average physical prowess (Soroka & Bryjak, 1995). In most societies, the roles of women and men have their roots in these physical differences. Women, for example, are more often found in childcare roles, while men are more often found in military service (Soroka & Bryjak, 1995). In modern times, however, it is clear that there is no fixed rule as to what women and men are limited to in terms of their social role. The issues, it seems, are not a matter of ability but rather a matter of social acceptance and individual comfort — shaped by gender stereotypes and personal characteristics.

The Traditional American Male Ideal

What most people consider the traditional roles of the American man seem to be rooted in the generations of the two World Wars (Lindsay, 2005). Lindsay (2005) describes the role of the "Great American Alpha Male" as "husband, breadwinner, father and warrior" who "returned from saving the world to two-car garages and suburban malaise" (p. 1). Such men had the identity of male made for them and knew what was expected of them. They completed their education, fought in the wars of their country, settled down with a wife as soon as they could support one, and raised a family.

Once married, they stayed married. They provided for their family under nearly all circumstances and protected them from harsh societal issues and world events (Lindsay, 2005). The result of these traditional male and female gender roles was a trend toward patriarchy. Soroka and Bryjak (1995) note that, despite the biological advantages of being female, "in virtually all societies, the period between birth and death is characterized by overwhelming male social advantages in such fundamental realms as educational and occupational opportunities, health care, and legal and political representation... Men dominate major social institutions, and women are subordinated to those structures" (pp. 230–231). This dynamic began to change significantly in the 1980s and 1990s, as feminists worked to topple opposition to women in the workplace and other nontraditional roles (Soroka & Bryjak, 1995).

The Rise of Feminism and Shifting Male Roles

In response to two decades of feminist-spurred change, men began taking on traditionally female roles and vice versa. Though it is difficult for individual men to completely let go of their traditional roles, statistics suggest that more men are taking on female roles every day (Watts & Borders, 2005). More men are staying at home with their children while their wives pursue careers (Brescoll & Uhlmann, 2005). Men are increasingly present in jobs once considered feminine, including teaching and nursing (Brescoll & Uhlmann, 2005; Lindsay, 2005). Male students are also more likely than in previous decades to pursue liberal arts and are less likely to prioritize academic achievement in the ways their predecessors did (Watts & Borders, 2005).

References

Brescoll, V., & Uhlmann, E. (2005). Attitudes toward traditional and nontraditional parents. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 29(4), 436–445.

Lindsay, G. (2005, June). Man vs. man: Did marketing kill the great American alpha male? Advertising Age, 76, p. 1.

Macionis, J. J. (2000). Society: The basics. Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Soroka, M. P., & Bryjak, G. J. (1995). Social problems: A world at risk. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Watts, R., Jr., & Borders, L. (2005). Boys' perceptions of the male role: Understanding gender role conflict in adolescent males. Journal of Men's Studies, 13(2), 267–280.