Chapter 1 & 9 The Power of Character by David Tjeder

Chapter 1 & 9The Power of Character by David Tjeder Group 3 Hinves, Alexa Khoo Shi Ann, Shuna Tan Yi Lu Lim Pei Tsung

Outline of Presentation • Introduction • The Male Norm - Alexa • Masculinity as homosocial - Shuna • Countertypes - Yi Lu • The intricacies of men’s lives - Pei Tsung • Conclusion

Part 1: The Male Norm Can be interpreted in three ways: • Men have symbolized humanity, rather than the male sex • Because men have been a norm, men have not discussed themselves as men, only as human beings.(this proved to be wrong) • While men discussed the meaning of manhood, some forms of masculinity were never problematized

Part 1: What is a Real Man? • Major Problematic… • Men too often unable to master their passions • Men had misunderstood the true meaning of manhood • ** While discussing the problematic of man, power and privilege was always accepted and was never seen as a problem

Part 1: The Married Man • From a lack of power to a position of power • Matrimony was the highest point of masculinity. • The bachelor signified unhealthy individualism and neglect to father children • Middle-class autobiographers always mentioned their marriage • Described their will to marry as an important step to manhood • Women were a symbol to men of matrimony

Part 1: The Academic • Exempted for the requirement of marriage • The work of academic’s was their commitment • Marriage would interfere with their studies • This is contested though as some thought that marriage would allow academics to live a longer, healthier life • * Constant celebration of matrimony through biographies and texts demonstrates the opinions of middle-class marriage

Part 2: Masculinity As Homosocial Homosocial • Relating to social interaction between the same sex, typically men

Part 2: Masculinity As Homosocial 4 Roles of Women • Responsible for a cozy home for tired husband • Appears to be ‘what-a-man-shouldn’t-be’ • Sexual threats to men • (later in the century) Perceived men as sexual threats to women

Part 3: Countertypes Ideal vs. Countertype Gamblers, drinkers Egoistic men Effeminate men Seducer

Part 3: Countertypes Homosexuality • Countertype to real manhood • Homophobic sentiment was rife in Sweden before 1944 Gender Order of the Middle Class • Passion • No longer youth • Character

Part 4: Intricacies of Men’s Live • What makes a man? Character? Behaviour? Hobbies? • Drinking and gambling were thought to be desirable • But there are man that criticized both • Aristocrat (ClaesAdelsköld)that describes himself as a rough-neck

Part 4: Intricacies of Men’s Live • What defines a man can be quite contextual • Definition of masculinity has been constantly changing • What is the problem with being a man? • Changing definition of masculinity meant that man were always seen as problematic , because the reference point was always changing

Part 4: Intricacies of Men’s Live • Masculinity only recognized males and ignored everything else (Men and the others) • Masculinity meant to reproduce and legitimize men’s dominance over everything • Inequality stems from the ignorance. A feministic point of view is required

Conclusion A constant crisis of masculinity • 1800: Sturdy masculinity of the vikings • Men’s incapacity to master their passions & develop character (e.g. the art of seduction) • Manliness was a notion of the past. History tells us the true ideals of real men. • Masculinity evolves with time.

Chapter 1 & 9 The Power of Character by David Tjeder