The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

The male sex drive is undoubtedly one of the most powerful urges which oftentimes seems unbridled to our female counterparts. However, if one subscribes to Darwinism, one might argue that this cannot be helped and that men are merely acting out their animal instincts. Much of a man's masculinity is bottled up in his sexual capability. It can be argued that should man’s sexual capability be taken away then man and manhood would be viewed as a lion without teeth. This untamed sexual urge has held man captive from the beginning of time; however, this should not detract from having a good healthy sex drive. Masculinity and Pornography It bares thought that pornography has becomes more than just an attraction. If masculinity is caught up in sexuality and viewed solely via this lens; then pornography is undoubtedly an affirmation of masculinity for many. Pornography appeals to; the visual, stimulates the physical and temporarily satisfies the emotional, without a commitment. It is of

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” –Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. It is rather disturbing and disingenuous that in the discourse surrounding gender relations, the issues which are of concern to men are often kicked to the curb.   Our general stereotype of men and masculinity often runs counter to having an enlightened engagement of men’s issues, and sadly those who advocate for men’s issues are frequently looked upon as strange. However, not to be daunted there is an urgent need for a concerted and sustained campaign to realign and re-balance the narrative to one of gender inclusiveness. Perhaps there is no better time to sit down and discuss men’s issues than International Men’s Day (IMD) which provides such a platform on which positive manhood can be celebrated.   Needless to say we will never have gender equality if we continue to ignore the plight of any one sex.   Th

“My wife and I are deeply committed to each other but to have a happier marriage we need more sex”. Those are the words of my colleague, Alphanso, age 43; one might add the sentiments expressed by him are quite common in today’s society, especially among men. In almost every research done on relationship and the extent to which couples are happy, sex is usually the number one area of concern for both partners. The frequency of sex between married couples is often a private matter and as such lends itself to much debate with regards to what makes for a healthy marriage. “Sexual intercourse is dynamic and should be in a marriage” so says Andrew, Whether we admit to it or not we live in a sexualized and an instant gratification world. Sex, is one of ways in which intimacy can be expressed between couples. Denton, age 44, who is also married, adds a different dimension.   He opines that some women withhold sex in a marriage as a way of punishing the husband.   According to Denton, who is a

“Black men struggle with masculinity so much. The idea that we must always be strong really presses us all down- it keeps us from growing”. –Donald Glover    Historically, the male gender has been privileged, not only in Jamaica but also on a global scale. According to Mark Figueroa, in the book, Interrogating Caribbean Masculinities: Theoretical and Empirical Analyses , “ The male gender has had access to a broader social space; it has had greater control over a wider range of resources and has been more able to enjoy that it has controlled”. The privileging afforded to the male gender has significantly contributed to what some may view as the unhealthy and undesirable state of masculinity in the Jamaican society.   Additionally, the notions of masculinity and manhood are deeply entrenched and associated with the sexual objectification of women. It can be argued that all men at some point in their lives struggle with society’s standards regarding the unrealistic benchmark surrounding