Masculinity and Manhood: Is there A Crisis?
“A kingdom man is the
kind of man that when his feet hit the floor each morning the devil says, “Oh
crap, he’s up!”- Dr. Tony Evans
Church was a bit different today. Many congregants had on their church appropriate summer wear which included jeans. The church’s dress code is relaxed during the months of June to August to help us offset the sweltering heat. We are accustomed to having a pastor delivered sermon; however, instead we had a medical doctor who spoke on the topic: Guard the Man and Heal the Land. Dr. Michael Coombs is a public health specialist as well as the founder and chair of the National Association of Families (NAF). Like many other Jamaicans today was the first time I was learning about the NAF. The organization is observing their fifth anniversary. Dr. Coombs spoke on the state of manhood and masculinity in Jamaica. He painted a distressing state of affairs regarding manhood not only in Jamaica but globally. When men retreat from their responsibilities the consequences to the family, marriages and communities have devastating effects. The men who were his target audience affirmed their presence with shouts of Hallelujah throughout the sermon. One does not have to be a scholar to realize that our families and marriages are constantly under attack. A number of researchers have made the link between masculinity and violence. Sadly, most perpetrators of crime are males, so too are the victims of crime. Mark Figueroa posits that historically males have been privileged and he argues that males continue to have access to broader social space in most societies. Perhaps this historical privilege ascribed at birth can explain why some men have chosen to give up arms while all around is chaos. Coombs mentioned that there are serious and strategic attempts to destroy families. He is of the view that when manhood and masculinity are exposed to demonic vices the church, marriages and the community all fail. During his presentation he stated that the decline of manhood as created by God is at the heart of collapsing societies. He said that this is evident in the increasing number of broken homes and in an increase in crime and violence. The genesis for the decline of manhood and masculinity is the Garden of Eden when the devil engaged Eve and she complied. In Eve’s exercise of her free will and without any reference to Adam she obeyed the devil and ate of the forbidden fruit. As a result of this decision by Eve manhood and masculinity have been in retreat every since. I agree with Dr. Coombs that our men are missing in action in many aspects of the society, the exceptions being the prisons, morgues, bars, pubs and adult places of entertainment. Undoubtedly, too many of us have abandoned our responsibility to our families, spouses, children, church and work. Disturbingly, a question mark regarding manhood and masculinity hangs over the heads of too many men in society. Additionally, there is a state of confusion in many men surrounding their identity and position in both the family and the wider society. There are some women who try very hard to emasculate the men in their lives and of course this does more harm than good. If a brother has shortcomings, nothing is wrong in pointing them out; however, this should not be at the expense of making him feel lesser than a man. Unfortunately, the education system also contributes to the decline of manhood and masculinity with an overwhelming majority of females as teachers.
Missing In Action
Our men are missing in action in the homes and the church. The dropout rate for boys is higher than that of girls. There are hardly any men are in the classroom to provide the mentoring that boys need to make than transition from boyhood to manhood. Dr. Coombs emphasized that as men we must guards this man (masculinity) in order to bring healing to our families. The devil is far from dumb. The devil is aware that if men continue to be missing in action in the homes, families, schools and the church, then confusion and failure will inevitably follows facilitating a collapse in society. The effect of fatherlessness is especially hurting and can have a destructive impact on many children. Most if not all of us can identity a family which has suffered because of the absence of the father. Many of us know firsthand the suffering, pain and anger this causes. Research has shown that single- headed female households have a higher level of poverty and that children in such families tend to run afoul with the law more often than nuclear families with both mom and dad present. Coombs rejected the ideology of gender as a fluid construct. This fluidity philosophy he said is responsible for much confusion in the minds of many children and men as well. He quoted Genesis 1:27 to support his argument, “so God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” He cautioned men to have someone who they are accountable to since he is of the view that men usually fall into temptation during moments of solitude. He warned men against pornography and other ungodly deeds. Coombs said that the first step in becoming a Kingdom Man is to surrender one’s life to God, this he added must be a total submission to God in all aspects of one’s being. He reminded men that they are the primary instructors in the family and while he praised the work of women he told the congregation that women were not created to be the head of the family. Dr. Coombs was animated at times. At other times Dr. Coombs spoke in Jamaican English to bring across his points more forcefully.
Manhood and Masculinity
Coombs charged those men who have failed to guard their masculinity to seek forgiveness at the throne of God and move forward with a renewed spirit of manhood and masculinity. At birth we are either born male or female. Each society and our families then add on the trappings of masculinity or femininity as it required. Is masculinity in a crisis? Your guess is as good as mine. As men in the Jamaican context we have been socialized to believe that our sense of manhood and masculinity is rooted solely in our ability to father children. This skewed definition of what a man is has led many men on a path of sexual irresponsibility. Additionally, we hear of hegemonic masculinity which is an ideal template of how all men should behave. This hegemonic masculinity reference usually excludes the experiences of black masculinity and therefore we cannot have a one size fit all men experience. The terminology toxic masculinity has become very popular in recent times. The absence of a male mentoring programme has led to the development and spread of a strand of masculinity which can be toxic at times. Our boys have a challenge; in fact the society has a challenge on its hand. The issue of manhood and masculinity therefore must navigate through the various barriers that society has put in place to define, redefine and to interrogate men and masculinity. As a society we need more support services for boys and men. It is evident that our boys are in need of positive male influence. Perhaps the churches can take some practical steps in establishing mentoring programme for the young men in their respective denominations. A few years ago I did a Research Paper for my M.Sc. degree on the topic: Boys’ Perception of Tertiary Education: An Investigation of Fifth Form Boys at Two Traditional Single- Sex High Schools in the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA). One of my recommendations was a call to action for a national mentorship programme for males. We also need to re-socialize the Jamaican society. As men we need to look into the mirror, and engage in some retrospection of self in order to identify the gaps in our being. It is only by being true to ourselves as men that can seek the necessary help that some many of us as brothers need. We need to engage more men in social spaces such as what the church provides in order for us to have a re-positioning of gender identity in the society.
In the words of Marcus Aurelius, waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be One.
@WayneCamo
Church was a bit different today. Many congregants had on their church appropriate summer wear which included jeans. The church’s dress code is relaxed during the months of June to August to help us offset the sweltering heat. We are accustomed to having a pastor delivered sermon; however, instead we had a medical doctor who spoke on the topic: Guard the Man and Heal the Land. Dr. Michael Coombs is a public health specialist as well as the founder and chair of the National Association of Families (NAF). Like many other Jamaicans today was the first time I was learning about the NAF. The organization is observing their fifth anniversary. Dr. Coombs spoke on the state of manhood and masculinity in Jamaica. He painted a distressing state of affairs regarding manhood not only in Jamaica but globally. When men retreat from their responsibilities the consequences to the family, marriages and communities have devastating effects. The men who were his target audience affirmed their presence with shouts of Hallelujah throughout the sermon. One does not have to be a scholar to realize that our families and marriages are constantly under attack. A number of researchers have made the link between masculinity and violence. Sadly, most perpetrators of crime are males, so too are the victims of crime. Mark Figueroa posits that historically males have been privileged and he argues that males continue to have access to broader social space in most societies. Perhaps this historical privilege ascribed at birth can explain why some men have chosen to give up arms while all around is chaos. Coombs mentioned that there are serious and strategic attempts to destroy families. He is of the view that when manhood and masculinity are exposed to demonic vices the church, marriages and the community all fail. During his presentation he stated that the decline of manhood as created by God is at the heart of collapsing societies. He said that this is evident in the increasing number of broken homes and in an increase in crime and violence. The genesis for the decline of manhood and masculinity is the Garden of Eden when the devil engaged Eve and she complied. In Eve’s exercise of her free will and without any reference to Adam she obeyed the devil and ate of the forbidden fruit. As a result of this decision by Eve manhood and masculinity have been in retreat every since. I agree with Dr. Coombs that our men are missing in action in many aspects of the society, the exceptions being the prisons, morgues, bars, pubs and adult places of entertainment. Undoubtedly, too many of us have abandoned our responsibility to our families, spouses, children, church and work. Disturbingly, a question mark regarding manhood and masculinity hangs over the heads of too many men in society. Additionally, there is a state of confusion in many men surrounding their identity and position in both the family and the wider society. There are some women who try very hard to emasculate the men in their lives and of course this does more harm than good. If a brother has shortcomings, nothing is wrong in pointing them out; however, this should not be at the expense of making him feel lesser than a man. Unfortunately, the education system also contributes to the decline of manhood and masculinity with an overwhelming majority of females as teachers.
Missing In Action
Our men are missing in action in the homes and the church. The dropout rate for boys is higher than that of girls. There are hardly any men are in the classroom to provide the mentoring that boys need to make than transition from boyhood to manhood. Dr. Coombs emphasized that as men we must guards this man (masculinity) in order to bring healing to our families. The devil is far from dumb. The devil is aware that if men continue to be missing in action in the homes, families, schools and the church, then confusion and failure will inevitably follows facilitating a collapse in society. The effect of fatherlessness is especially hurting and can have a destructive impact on many children. Most if not all of us can identity a family which has suffered because of the absence of the father. Many of us know firsthand the suffering, pain and anger this causes. Research has shown that single- headed female households have a higher level of poverty and that children in such families tend to run afoul with the law more often than nuclear families with both mom and dad present. Coombs rejected the ideology of gender as a fluid construct. This fluidity philosophy he said is responsible for much confusion in the minds of many children and men as well. He quoted Genesis 1:27 to support his argument, “so God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” He cautioned men to have someone who they are accountable to since he is of the view that men usually fall into temptation during moments of solitude. He warned men against pornography and other ungodly deeds. Coombs said that the first step in becoming a Kingdom Man is to surrender one’s life to God, this he added must be a total submission to God in all aspects of one’s being. He reminded men that they are the primary instructors in the family and while he praised the work of women he told the congregation that women were not created to be the head of the family. Dr. Coombs was animated at times. At other times Dr. Coombs spoke in Jamaican English to bring across his points more forcefully.
Manhood and Masculinity
Coombs charged those men who have failed to guard their masculinity to seek forgiveness at the throne of God and move forward with a renewed spirit of manhood and masculinity. At birth we are either born male or female. Each society and our families then add on the trappings of masculinity or femininity as it required. Is masculinity in a crisis? Your guess is as good as mine. As men in the Jamaican context we have been socialized to believe that our sense of manhood and masculinity is rooted solely in our ability to father children. This skewed definition of what a man is has led many men on a path of sexual irresponsibility. Additionally, we hear of hegemonic masculinity which is an ideal template of how all men should behave. This hegemonic masculinity reference usually excludes the experiences of black masculinity and therefore we cannot have a one size fit all men experience. The terminology toxic masculinity has become very popular in recent times. The absence of a male mentoring programme has led to the development and spread of a strand of masculinity which can be toxic at times. Our boys have a challenge; in fact the society has a challenge on its hand. The issue of manhood and masculinity therefore must navigate through the various barriers that society has put in place to define, redefine and to interrogate men and masculinity. As a society we need more support services for boys and men. It is evident that our boys are in need of positive male influence. Perhaps the churches can take some practical steps in establishing mentoring programme for the young men in their respective denominations. A few years ago I did a Research Paper for my M.Sc. degree on the topic: Boys’ Perception of Tertiary Education: An Investigation of Fifth Form Boys at Two Traditional Single- Sex High Schools in the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA). One of my recommendations was a call to action for a national mentorship programme for males. We also need to re-socialize the Jamaican society. As men we need to look into the mirror, and engage in some retrospection of self in order to identify the gaps in our being. It is only by being true to ourselves as men that can seek the necessary help that some many of us as brothers need. We need to engage more men in social spaces such as what the church provides in order for us to have a re-positioning of gender identity in the society.
In the words of Marcus Aurelius, waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be One.
Wayne Campbell is an
educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as
they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com@WayneCamo
©
Comments
Post a Comment