Do it For All Your Pubic Hairs Facilitation Questions
Why do you think there is such a strong tie to cultural identity for these young boys, considering they are second generation immigrants? Why do they identify more with their Hispanic origins rather than their American roots?
How would you describe/compare gender perceptions between adolescent boys and girl? Do you believe they are bold held to the same standards when it comes to looks and attitudes?
Do you believe that the perceptions of masculinity is learned through home or the media for these young boy?
Why do you think this extreme practice of gender performance is due to the fact that girls and teachers see them as children? Is it a form of compensation?
Why do you think there is a sudden shift in the boys' gender performance once they begin puberty? Why was puberty something they always talked about in the sixth grade, yet when they finally begin that stage in development, they tend to fall quite? Could it be due to the fact that females take notice? Or maybe due to the fact that they no longer feel that they have to prove their masculinity?
WRAP UP COMMENT:
I found everyone's point of view very interesting. When reading over the replies, Most of them had the same ideas I did. Overall, I think I could have worded my questions a bit better, because I think that it had confused some. The reason I believe this is because I did not receive some of the answers I thought I would.
Thank you for these really thoughtful questions.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if we're supposed to answer every question but if we are...
ReplyDelete1. I think this is because it's an enclosed community i.e. they likely don't interact with many people outside of this neighborhood so they aren't exposed day to day to mainstream American culture.
2.Girls were largely unaddressed in this reading beyond their reactions to the boys. Speaking from experience however I do remember puberty being a prized condition at this age for girls too. You were more womanly if you had breasts and/or had started menstruating.
3.I think so, yes. It's a common practice in boys and girls to segregate at this age as they begin to form their gender identities.
4. As the reading says "masculinity is a life long project", seventy year old men can be protective of their masculinity so I don't think the need to prove themselves ever fully goes away. They may however become more *comfortable* with their gender identity and that's why it becomes less performative.
1. Part of the reason why they claimed their Latin roots of a certain reason is do in part that the society around them has classified them as something other than "American." So one reason behind claiming their identity from their immigrant parents is that it's the only thing available to them. Another reason is the sense that is what they grew up around they see that as a tie, and in terms of masculinity a point of pride through male lineage.
ReplyDelete2. To be general no, the reading underlines that in this pre-adolescent stage they boys who are just getting started with their hormonal changes are some what expected to go through this process of displaying more aggressive behavior and to eventually or practice showing that they can suppress these emotion. Boys goal both within their homosocial group and some adults is to active a sense of what masculinity is like. That's why the boys aggressive behavior is part of the process in that their getting a slow sense of what a "man" is. The girls in the process of their hormonal changes is meant to seem different in that they are expect to softer in a physical sense, and expect to "experience" emotions. At least that's from the reading, and stereotypical preferences.
3. In all yes, that is how some cultural expectation are passed. The issue is that just like the majority of the boys understanding, the media often displays a slow understanding of the gender role leaving out the complexities. I would consider a far better option in understanding the role of the gender within the culture. The reasoning I say this is that I grew up with my family members like my mother, father, grandfather, and grandmother you showed the performance with their genders. However they also explained the reasoning, method, complexities, and nuisances of the roles. Such as "while having the ability to do violence, true men should refrain from using or showing it and aim to live in peace" is something my grandfather would say. My grandmother would also say "children use aggression, adult use understand." There were plenty of life lessons and displays from all my family members.
4. Looking at it seems that the reason why the girls and teachers call them children is because the aggressive performances and some what stereotypical actions done by the boys in from their skin deep perception of what men are. One example is their understanding of stoicism as being unfeeling, without pain, and in control. While to original goal was understand why you feel, what causes pain, and manage your own personal being.
1. Cultural identity, I think has a lot to do with how people think of themselves and how they fit the ideals that they see around them and in the people around them. I think these boys have such a strong connection with their cultural identity because they have been surrounded by the ideals of what men in their social circles should look like and so aspire to embody all these aspects of the men in their cultures. I think the boys identify more so with their Hispanic origins than that of their American identity because although they live in the United States their social interactions and the way they want to construct their lives is deeply influenced by their Hispanic origins and so its almost as if the boy had never left the place where their parents came from.
ReplyDelete2. I think between boys and girls they both either want to assert some level of super masculine or feminine qualities when it comes to gender perceptions among them. However, I do think that boys value classically masculine qualities in their actions like fighting and physical strength when in comes to enforcing that they are "men" and women I think care more about appearing more like grown women so they value their appearance more so, but, this can also be said about boys as well. I think boys and girls are held to similar standards but I think women in the public space are more seen to be pressured to look like a certain type of woman whereas men have standards but I am not sure if the pressure is as extreme for them to look like a certain type of men.
3. I think that for these boys both the media and home are where their perception of masculinity is shaped. I think the media intensifies masculine expectations for these boys, but, I think the home is also when the boys get an inspired to look a certain way.
4. I do think that the boys' extreme practices of gender performance are a form of compensation for the way the girls and female teachers' see them, but, I think it is also so they can prove these girls and female teachers wrong. However, I also think the boys simply do it for themselves and for the other boys around them since these extreme practices show their other male peers that they are truly manly.
5. I think the boys stopped talking about their puberty after the sixth grade because by this time the effects of puberty for them were quite visible. Also, I think that female teachers and girls commenting on their bodies after the six grade did contribute to the boys own minds in that they were becoming men and so they felt by this time that maybe they no longer needed to remind people of their manliness and instead just engage in "men" activities like flirting with girls.
1) Why do you think there is such a strong tie to cultural identity for these young boys, considering they are second generation immigrants? Why do they identify more with their Hispanic origins rather than their American roots?
ReplyDelete-I think that the tie comes from the children visiting their home country so often. Also considering that this is their culture, it's hard not to be caught up in it. They also are going to school with kids like them, which adds on to the environment and culture.
2) How would you describe/compare gender perceptions between adolescent boys and girl? Do you believe they are bold held to the same standards when it comes to looks and attitudes?
- Based on the reading, I don't think we were given much information about the girls, but the article did mention that some girls went along with the flirting. I think that women naturally mature quicker, so they are still interested and might feel pressured by the guys at the same time.
3) Do you believe that the perceptions of masculinity is learned through home or the media for these young boy?
I think for this article, it was home culture. As mentioned before they did visit their home country many times, where culture alone and media is a big influence
4) Why do you think this extreme practice of gender performance is due to the fact that girls and teachers see them as children? Is it a form of compensation?
I think it just shows how much they are still seen and are boys. They are still immature and these kids are being pressured to be something that they are not. The comments I feel are more like teasing, and really ties into the boys turning into "men"
5) Why do you think there is a sudden shift in the boys' gender performance once they begin puberty? Why was puberty something they always talked about in the sixth grade, yet when they finally begin that stage in development, they tend to fall quite? Could it be due to the fact that females take notice? Or maybe due to the fact that they no longer feel that they have to prove their masculinity?
-The boys get praised so much for their change, it's almost like it all pad off. Now they feel, look, and are treated like men, all of which contributes to their new phase.
1. I think the connection towards their Latin American side is due to the "hispanic pride" and how machismo is widely accepted in their culture.
ReplyDelete2. I feel as the girls grow up faster and therefor have a more mature mentality as they do always call them boys and refuse to call them "men". The boys saw it more as a physical change (muscles, fit physique, penis size, etc.) whereas the girls see it more mentally.
3. I think the idea of masculinity for these boys was learned at home for them because they were surrounded by a culture that takes pride in showing their masculinity out to the public and is even an expectation, which in the end is participated by the generation.
4. I feel because the teachers and girls at school tease the boys as being childish and immature it only pushes the boys into wanting to prove that they aren't little kids and so they participate in physical challenges and say sexual comments to prove otherwise.
1. I think there is such a strong tie to cultural identity because that is how these kids were raised. The reading makes it seem like they are proud of their hometown since they would prefer to be called Dominican if they are Dominican if possible rather than Hispanic which shows a certain amount of pride in their home country. I think they identify more with their Hispanic roots because the kids around them are the same way and they influence one another.
ReplyDelete2. The text states their gender perception between adolescent boys work in that the boys think they what counts as being masculine and strong is by proving their pain tolerance and withstanding challenges. The girls do not seem to care that much about maintaining their gender conformity since they are willing to participate in strength matches with the boys. In that way, I do not think they are held to quite the same standards when it comes to attitudes regarding gender conformity.
3. I think most of the masculinity concepts the boys picked up is with other boys rather than through media exactly. Although media and choice of music artists such as rappers do shape their thinking as well.
4.This extreme gender practice serves to prove their masculinity in response to the girls or teachers calling them children. In that regard, it can be called a form of compensation. But the teachers are mostly referring to their physical features such as the number of their teeth rather than their actual behavior.
5. I think there is a sudden shift in the boy's behavior because that is when their hormones preoccupy their thoughts with the opposite sex. I think puberty was no longer really talked about because once they hit it, there is no more anticipation regarding puberty.
1. I think these boys have such a strong tie to their Dominican and Puerto Rican roots because that is what they are mostly surrounded by in the area. Their school is mainly Latino and they also visit their countries regularly.
ReplyDelete2. I don’t think young girls are as concerned about how their gender is perceived as the young boys are. I think both are definitely held to standards when it comes to looks and attitudes but I think boys are held to higher standards. I feel like it is much more common for boys to be expected to act a certain way than it is for girls, and based off the reading these standards could be higher for those of Latin American background.
3. I think these young boys learn their ideas of masculinity through home and their environment rather than the media.
4. I think the teachers and their girl peers play a part in why these young boys try so hard to seem like men but I don’t think it is because of them. The teasing and comments they receive make them more likely to prove that they are men, but I think it is the pressure and competition with the other boys around their age that make them try so hard.
5. I am not sure why they suddenly don’t seem to care to prove they are men once they reach the next grade. I think it could be that their physical appearance changed so much that they didn't have to prove anything to their peers. It seems as if they lost interest in trying to prove their strength and masculinity with games and instead moved on to flirting.
1. There is a strong cultural identity because when people come into a space where they are very prideful about their culture, it encourages other people to do the same to assimilate better. I would assume that everyone of Puerto Rico does since any Puerto Ricqueño I met does the same since the US does not officially recognize them as a state.
ReplyDelete2. No, they are not, women are continually judged to be “good enough for a man”; I have always experienced this in Latino culture. I was never the right “size” according to my dad and he always called me fat even though I was 140lbs at 5’2. He never made any comments to my male cousins that were the same age as me.
3. I believe that it is learned through both outlets, to conform to familial expectations and idolizing influencers who meet those expectations, that can come from peers and family.
4. I think it is due to the fact not only because of their teachers but the opposite sex as well, it’s definitely a form of compensation. This can be seen because I think the boys would take offensive to being called “babies” by teachers and because the girls stated the expectations of what a man should be.
5. I think it is in part to how females take notice and the teachers finally acknowledge that they have grown, and I feel like obviously eventually they accept themselves a lot easier as they like their appearance now. Which is why a lot of the boys walked with a lot of “swagger”.
- I think that the young boys have such a strong sense of identify because of their immigrant parent and grandparents passing down their culture and also being surrounded by other second generation. They probably identify with their Hispanic origins because they feel a sense of pride in their cultural identity.
ReplyDelete-I think that both adolescent girls and adolescent boys have a sense of insecurity and discomfort, especially during years of puberty, but something I notice in the article is how openly the boys discussed, growing up my friends and I spoke about it sometimes but usually avoided talking about it as much as possible. I don't think boys and girls are held to the same standard when it comes but to looks and attitudes but I also think cultural perspective plays a role in it as well.
-I think that media only helps to enforce the ideas of masculinity that the boys already believed which where probably learned culturally at home.
-I don't think the boys are practicing extreme form of gender, I think that they're young, maybe immature and just doing what feels comfortable to them, many kids going through puberty tend to overcompensate to hide their insecurity in general but I think that the comments from the teachers and girls do add to the sense of insecurity the boys may feel, making them feel the need to prove something.
-I think that the boys behavior changes because they're finally moving pass the sense of discomfort that comes with puberty, moving pass the discomfort will probably make them feel less insecure or that they have need to prove their "manhood".