Males in Society

In society today there are social, peer, and family pressures on nearly every single person; which influence the way we interact and perceive the world. As much as we would like to believe that the people around us have a positive impact, it is not always the case. Many times when there are troubled individuals we ask vital questions when it is too late to make a difference, such as what could we have done differently? Why did this happen? Is it nature or nurture to blame? Males in particular are at the forefront of this perfect storm in which society leads misguided boys to become a threat to not only themselves but also to people around them.

From infancy, a clear difference can be seen in the way a baby girl is raised as opposed to the way that a baby boy would be raised. Beginning with the color of their rooms, the television boys watch, type of toys they are given and the types of clothes they wear. All of these variables prove to grow even more diverse in later years, but the point being that at this stage in life families, whether they realize it or not instill a desire to conform. Young boys are taught to look up to superheroes who are strong and powerful, who don’t cry or show emotion because that would make them weak and less manly. When boys don’t conform they are most commonly faced with verbal and physical bullying whether at school or from family/siblings. This type of proliferation day after day and year after year shows reward for those who play the part of a man and repeated punishment for all the outliers.

Puberty is undoubtedly one of the most confusing periods in both men and women's lives. Although for men there is much more going on under the surface that the public rarely pieces together. Puberty is seen as a time for self-discovery (to "find your yourself") yet for many boys they ask the answer to the question of where do I belong? Sprouting the desire to make connections (friendships/relationships) and to express feelings. For girls, they are encouraged to express themselves in whatever form suites them, whereas boys are told to do the same with the exception of showing emotions or appearance that would lead their peers to believe they are non-dominant or vulnerable. This is also the time at which video games are introduced which more often than not include violence, pornography, drug use, and a particular view of dehumanizing women. Leading to a more accepted view on rough sex or even rape. The popularity of these games is proof that growing boys are attracted to and influenced by the depictions in each level that they conquer. Boys who spend their time connecting with their peers over games or through involvement in athletics are accepted more so than those that spend their time studying and expressing themselves through healthy connections