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MarcEsadrian -> RE: Forced Masculinity, Take 2 (1/16/2010 2:21:05 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Psychonaut23
I mean...can anyone even name a single masculine archetype that's submissive? / Okay, to give you an example, I just now did a google search for "masculine traits." Here's the first link I got, a random list of masculine and feminine traits. You'll note that "being submissive" is a feminine trait, while "being dominant" is a masculine trait.
I'll also note much of that list is subjective, especially to the influence of cultural mythos. From a language perspective, "dominant" is a positive adjective, which simply means it is stating a quality or attribute. The word "dominant" itself means ruling, governing, or controlling; having or exerting authority or influence. Clearly, this quality isn't owned by masculine or feminine. Though we tend to culturally associate dominance more with males than females (or do we?), the presence of women in power and those who identify as dominant women on this board itself dispels the assertion that "male" is a hard synonym for "dominant".
As for the comparative or superlative usage of dominant (more dominant, most dominant) in relation to the sexes, that inevitably gets more into philosophy than anything objective. There are many who do believe men are more dominant, based upon the societal hegemony of the male. What I consider ironic, however, is that men have historically made it a "man's world" due to their hierarchal thinking, which inherently involves far more submission to authority than exclusive claim to it. If you wish to consider dominance only as it manifests between the two sexes, it is still a subjective—and selective—matter. There are plenty of men you wouldn't want to tangle with physically who openly admit to being second in command to their mates. In this it is obvious dominance is not solely found in might makes right.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Psychonaut23
Masculinity is something a guy has to work out for himself, something inside himself he has to embrace. To put it bluntly: You can't be pussy-whipped into being a man.
And what of the man who is strong, courageous, prideful and chivalrous who embraces submission to a woman? That punches a fairly substantial hole in the idea submissive man=weak.
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