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Leaders of the Pack Where do we begin on such a topic as manhood?
Few would argue that the issue of masculinity is fraught with long-standing historical and social roles and stereotypes, some good, some not so good. Our culture is full of superficial measures of what being a man should look like: from the tough, macho image to the hyper-competitive win-at-any-cost mentality. Most of us can identify typical male behavioral stereotypes, and we probably all agree that some of these characteristics are generally not desirable in society. One might argue they are not particularly good for men’s health either. by William (Sandy) Karstens IV, 33˚, Active for Vermont
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ScottishRiteNMJ.org
hat we are looking for is behavior that promotes the betterment of society and not disharmony. While we can all speculate about the reasons for male (and female) behavior, whether biological or social, as it relates to very early humans, our interest is in the modern man. We propose that rather than an individual burdened by dominant and aggressive behaviors formed long ago, this modern man should exhibit more chivalric characteristics: humility, faith, integrity, justice, and courage. These qualities serve to enhance, and not detract from, the well-being of society. Let’s look more closely at the stereotypical male, since after all, this is the role model a man will follow if there aren’t any other examples out there. Psychologist Ellen Hendriksen from Boston University talks about what she calls toxic masculinity or the “man in a box” trapped by a set of narrow rules laid out that define being a man. These include:
• Dominance over everyone else
• No emotions other than bravado or rage
• Winning; never losing • Don’t depend on anyone • Suffer pain in silence • Don’t do anything that could be construed as weakness
Further, hyper-masculine men are especially dominant over men who find themselves outside the box. In other words, If I’m trapped inside this confining box, you should be too! So if these are just roles played by males presumably because that’s what society tells them to be, is there something deeper, waiting to get The Northern Light
