Abstract for Final Project

Title: Masculinity and It’s Detrimental Effect
Topic Statement: This topic surrounds the idea of masculinity and how it inevitably effects individuals in society in negative ways leading to greater issues like violence toward women, gender stereotypes, sex scripts, and male dominance.

Thesis:
One of society’s greatest problems today stems directly from the issue of violence toward women. The oppression of women in society has lead to an obsession with masculinity and provoked serious efforts to diminish patriarchy. After looking deeper into the context of society, it is evident that violence toward women can be attributed to several factors including the male centered, male identified, and male dominated society in which we live.

Supporting Theories:

The reading titled “What is Masculinity?” provides a better understanding of what it means to be hyper masculine and how that can ultimately effect individual behavior. The theory suggests that masculinity can inevitably lead to patterns of violence within society.

The next reading, “Toward a definition of Patriarchy” discusses how men are the dominate figures in society. This is an important perspective because it better defines gender barriers and how they can create problems for women in society and diminish equality between men and women.

The final reading selected, “Oppression, Privilege and Resistance” revolves around the idea that the oppression of one group allows privilege of another group which is one of the components of discrimination and violence toward women. When women are subjected to oppression it leads to male dominance and power and a negative portrayal of women in general.

References: Oppression, Privilege, and Resistance (pgs. 143-147)

Masculinities and Culture (Chapter 1)

Inequality and Violence in the US (Chapter 1)