Draft for Reasearch paper #2

Johnny Quizhpi
Eng 101.0800
Prof. Bogacka
December 1, 2010
Draft #1
Men and their double bind

A man is defined by how he portraits to be, whether it be a gentleman or a beast. What he chooses to be will define the way people view him as and where does his masculinity stand. This whole concept of gentleman or beast is based on the research of Susan Bordo and her book The Male Body, specifically focusing in the chapter titled “the double bind of masculinity”. From this reading one can understand that men always have these situations in which they have to choose to become one or the other (gentleman or beast). Whichever one a man chooses to be will affect how people see him and he has to accept the consequences (negative stereotypes) that go along with that choice. Men have no clear way out to avoid any stereotypes that may be said about them and I agree with this and the main concept of Susan Bordo's "the double bind of masculinity".

With this whole concept of being in a lose-lose situation, men’s masculinity can be brought down with constant negative stereotypes. An article in the Sunday Mirror, I found one on ex-world heavyweight champ "Iron" Mike Tyson. Well Tyson is known for many things such as being a savage bull in the ring as well as for biting a fellow competitor’s ear bit off in a match. This article is interesting because Mike Tyson is known for all this aggressiveness and mean temper, but his girlfriend said that "It makes me sad he still has this reputation as a mean aggressive person. The real Mike is sensitive, funny, romantic, generous and extremely loving." (Luz) There is a perfect relation between his choice to be a gentleman and a beast to the Bordo chapter. This is where the stereotypes come into play, a man that has no control in ring is a negative influence and an enemy to the public, but his softness to his woman can land him a view that he is too feminine and a fake. No matter which one he chooses he is bonded by his spectators and critics and he can't really get free from their voices.

Men’s masculinity is sensitive as in what other people think of it.
Another interesting article I found was in The Times (London) and it was about the contradictory rock icon Brian Warner. This article published in September of 2002 gives examples that very well relates to the studies of Bordo. One line that Warner said is “Well, I am not competitive but in every relationship I’ve had, guys, girls, everything..” Well this contradictory artist very interesting because in his shows he is super aggressive to the point he plays goth, ground smashing rock and roll music. But he turns out to have feminine likings to men of his same sex. His decision to be a “gentle-man” as to say he has his masculinity sense way out of mind and perhaps he doesn’t know where it stands. The double bind is very applicable with Brian Warner because he know has many people who want him away and to practice his visions other places, he can not escape the sterotypes of the public but yet some die-hard fans love him for being the artist he is.
In conclusion many males face this double bind that makes them face decisions and stereotypes, mostly negative of the public to them. The example of “Iron” Mike Tyson who was an aggressive man but later his girlfriend said that he is soft and a perfect gentleman. As well as the example of Brian Warner a wild and crazy rockstar, who turns out to be a bisexual and very curious man. This all portraits back to the Susan Bordo article of “the double bind of masculinity”, these men have their own proper sense of masculinity and where it stands.
















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