In “Masculinity As Homophobia,” Michael Kimmel makes the case that men need to face and overcome this harmful component of their gender identity since homophobia is essentially linked to traditional masculinity. Using a variety of sources, Kimmel illustrates how men’s fear and rejection of anything deemed feminine or gay is a result of the pressure to uphold masculine values, which creates a culture of aggressiveness, domination, and emotional repression. According to him, men need to face and overcome this homophobic aspect of masculinity and adopt a more caring and inclusive definition of manhood. In this essay, Kimmel calls on men to reframe their gender identity in a more positive way by offering a detailed examination of the intricate and frequently damaging ways that masculinity is produced and practiced.
SUMMARY OF MEN IN BREWSTER’S PLACEBY GLORIA NAYLOR
Gloria Naylor’s The Men of Brewster Place (1998) is a novel that explores the complexities of masculinity, identity, and relationships. Through a series of interconnected mini-plots, the book delves into the lives of a group of men struggling to navigate societal expectations. With a compassionate approach, Naylor examines the ways in which these men contend with issues of vulnerability, power, and identity, creating a rich and multifaceted portrayal of masculinity in all its complexity. Through the story, Naylor sheds light on the damaging effects of toxic masculinity and offers a powerful critique of the societal norms that promote it.
One of the central characters, C.C. Baker, a pivotal character in “The Men of Brewster Place,” is portrayed as a school dropout with a troubled upbringing. Raised in a chaotic environment by abusive parents, C.C. faces neglect and abandonment from a young age when his overwhelmed parents with 6 childrencease efforts to keep him in school. This abandonment shapes his journey of self-discovery, pushing him towards independence and survival on the unforgiving streets. Despite yearning for respect and acceptance, C.C. resorts to harmful methods such as hustling and drug dealing, believing it to be the only path to earning respect in his community. His life is marked by inner turmoil and strained relationships as he navigates his past and his desperate quest for recognition. Despite his lack of formal education, C.C. compensates with street smarts, dealing with the challenges of his environment, including the heartbreaking act of killing his own brother, Hakim. THESIS CC Baker uses violence to prove his dominance, is ashamed to show fear or vulnerability, and maintains a “manly” cover for all his emotions and experiences, ultimately revealing the harmful and suffocating nature of toxic masculinity.
MAKERS OF MANHOOD 1: VIOLENCE 1ST EVIDENCE : When C.C. thinks “Bad and always looking for a way to prove it.” (Page 124
2ND EVIDENCE: When C.C. thinks “Do unto others, hard, fast and thorough so the fuckers think twice before doing it back to you.” (Page 125)
ACTION 1: When he voices his thoughts that Hakim is just another punk that needs to be taught a lesson. (Page 128)
ACTION 2: After shooting Hakim in the face, C.C. runs away from the crime scene thanking God for the courage to do it i.e– kill his brother. The courage to be a man. (Page 129)
MAKERS OF MANHOOD 2: ASHAMED TO BE EMOTIONAL EVIDENCE 1: C.C was praying for the courage to shoot Hakim when he said “For the first time in his life, C.C, begins to pray. Please, God, let me do this right. Give me a chance-for once-to be a real winner.” (Page 129)
EVIDENCE 2: Also, when C.C. was about to shoot hakim in the face, so he won’t see his face as he dies” and I think so that Hakim won’t see the fear in his eyes”. (Page 129
ACTION 1: C.C dropping the gun and running away from the crime scene after killing Hakim only to end up crying saying it was as a result of the cold air whipping his face. Ashamed to show fear.(Page 129).
ACTION2: When C.C finally saw Hakim and had to convince himself that he had been trembling from the cold instead saying it was as a result of the crippling fear that had gripped him. (Page 129)
MAKERS OF MANHOOD 3: RESPECT OR POWER
EVIDENCE 1: C.C feels his father was a punk-ass or not man enough for not asking him where he gets his money from and not be a man and face his truth. He wanted that confrontation, so he could stand up to his father as a man. (Page 125) EVIDENCE 2: When C.C. thinks the most important thing in a man’s life is self-respect, which you won’t have when you snivel and cry over every loser that gets taken out. (Page 125)
ACTION 1: When the detectives alleged C.C for trying to disrespect them in the rude manner he was talking to them, saying “See, you got an attitude problem, C.C. Nobody’s talking that way to you. We show you respect-show us some.” (Page 122)
ACTION 2: When C. C’s father tells him that he is heading for the grave with the lifestyle he was living. As a man that is not afraid, he does not care and pays no heed to the advice as long as the ride is either smooth or top shelf. (Page 122)
IN AN ESSAY CHARACTER IS CC BAKER , WRITE 3 PARAGRAPH USING THE INFORMATION GIVING ABOVE USING THIS FORMAT I-C-E-C-E-T [ Introduce the idea [makers of manhood ] , Cite 1st evidence [analys] , explain with a passage in the story [judge is it right or wrong ] , cite 2nd evidence [analys] ,explain with a passage in the story [judge is it right or wrong ] , tie the story all together . repeat this format for each paragraph
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