Male role models
I was discussing the notion of men being fathers and making men out of men and my latest musings on whether or not men are encouraged to tough up because they are being taught by another man who has been taught by another man to tough up, or if that is the way men are, or more to the point, if we adopt a son, would we be able to provide enough male role models, what is needed – tough them up, let them cry and hurt?
Tonight someone offered a completely different way of thinking – perhaps within all of us are masculine and feminine and that for a boy to grow to manhood they would learn from many different types of people what is masculine and feminine and not necessarily the corresponding gender.
I like that.
July 15th, 2013 at 9:57 am
[…] And I’ve been noticing a lot more difference as Tin enters his post-toddler years – from a moment in the toy store where a father, on his knees, engaged in a Battle Royale with his son using NERF swords, to watching Tin swing from my friend’s fiancé arms every time he sees him, to the cool, jazz moves he’s adopted from his musician godfather. I’ve been observing him and I know once again this is something I cannot replicate despite what people say about our containing both masculine and feminine qualities. […]