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The Bear Facts
Courtesy of Sarah Hui ‘20
‘War on Boys’: Implications of Language By JACKIE THOMAS ‘20
As many Ursuline juniors learn each year in AP Language and Composition, style can make or break a writer’s point, convey their attitude and express their argument more clearly to the audience. This rings true whether in Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle or the ReMarker’s recently controversial “Kavanaugh and the War on Boys”— devices reveal tone, tone reveals the author’s attitude, and attitude reveals the piece’s underlying message. And what is this not-so-hidden meaning within “War on Boys?” Let’s take a closer look at Wallace White’s argument through his rhetorical and linguistic choices used throughout his article to find out. Of course, the most logical place to begin is with White’s word choices. Diction throughout the entire piece forms a decidedly dramatic, agitated tone, and there are too many examples to fully examine here, but some specific terms warrant discussion. Some of White’s most notable diction concerns boys’ apparently inevitable natural transgressions. Take, for example, “tomfoolery.” The connotation of the term brings to mind a 5-year-old playfully feeding his asparagus to his dog under the kitchen table to avoid vegetables, not the complicated issues of relationships or sexual assault. In this way, White constructs a lighthearted tone surrounding boys’ supposed innate propensity toward mistakes, conveying an ultimate message that the “stupid things” boys do are harmless and even beneficial. Later, White also calls the consequences of manly romantic conquest sometimes “self-destructive.” This term reinforces his earlier carefree, even playful, tone by emphasizing boys’ only victims as themselves in their “drive to pursue love.” While not referring to rape, White’s diction implies
boys’ previously described transgressions have no real negative impact on others, making an enormous generalization over all male mistakes to support his message. In the area of boys’ utter lack of control over their minds, bodies, wills and actions, White uses words like “unbridled,” “untamable,” and “indominable” [sic]. These terms, all meaning impossible to control, subdue, or constrain, convey an impassioned and outraged tone and White’s resulting point that males are simply unable to function independently from a set list of aggressive, “masculine” traits. Next, White uses a pattern of language to refute the idea of boys’ actions being criticized or limited, accusing his opposers of “curtail[ing]” or “inhibit[ing]” American masculinity. Meaning “depriving” and “impeding and hindering natural behavior” respectively, these word choices add to White’s accusatory tone and begin his rhetoric of men as victims of both their nature and women’s insistence to restrain them. Beyond diction and language, White’s devices and structures expand his argument and reveal his message in deeper detail. One such structure is passive voice, which enables White to paint boys and men as victims without mentioning who carries out the supposed victimizing. As a result of passive voice, he avoids naming who “calls [men] a myriad of names,” “call[s] [Kavanaugh] a rapist,” or teaches boys “that their masculinity needs to be curtailed.” This purposeful shift of focus strengthens White’s consistent narrative of boys as victims of faceless aggressors like their apparent innate character.
White also uses implied procatalepsis, or acknowledgement of and rebuttal to objection, to convey his point, saying, “…boys will do stupid things sometimes. And that’s ok. Yes, let boys make stupid mistakes.” Here, White implies the objection that boys should control themselves and use foresight and morals to consider consequences before their actions, and, while he offers no specific reasoning for his rebuttal, his slightly patronizing tone formed by straightforward language characterizes this hypothetical objector as ridiculous and unfounded. To build his emotional, angry voice of victimization throughout his piece, White uses parallelism and anaphora, where he repeats words and phrases or mirrors structures between statements to give these areas emphasis and emotional crescendo. For example, White pointedly introduces a paragraph, “Boys can’t experience essential parts of their lives. They can’t be themselves.” Parallelism in this phrase, in the repetition of “can’t,” highlights White’s perceived unfair restriction of male rights and identities. Similarly, in a concluding statement, White stresses, “The drive, the impulsiveness, the aggression.” This structure once again serves to build the passionate, angry tone, emphasizing supposed inherent male qualities being
threatened. “Kavanaugh and the War on Boys” delivers a treasure trove of rhetorical and stylistic devices that we as readers can use to decipher White’s point behind the bluster. Putting together his diction, structure and rhetoric, White’s overall tone is offended and resentful. However, the effect of this tone, though obvious with analysis, is surprising considering his opening sentence: “Boys will be boys.” White’s overall message, perceived through language, is not that boys will be boys; rather, his insistence on boys’ utter submission to a list of antiquated “masculine” traits reinforced by his devices provides a far different takeaway: boys will be no one. Chock-full of bravado and self-defined masculine aggression, White’s op-ed strips away all individuality, identity and uniqueness from boys and men, reducing them to objects at the mercy of their biological “unbridled” need to express “tomfoolery” in a blind “drive to pursue love.” The aforementioned not-so-hidden meaning? Boys are supposedly incapable of acting as intelligent, decisive humans. According to White and his language, boys will not be boys. Apparently, boys will be no one, no identity at all.
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What Are Healthy Relationships? By GRACE RISINGER ‘20
Contrary to the belief expressed in “Kavanaugh and the war on boys,” it is extremely possible for boys to be in relationships without the looming fear of “being called a rapist.” In fact, it is more than a possibility; understanding what relationship abuse is, how this abuse effects relationships and what makes a healthy relationship are the first steps in putting a stop to this mentality. Relationship abuse comes in many forms; it is not always a slap or a kick. There are five different types of abuse: verbal, emotional, financial, spiritual and physical. Verbal abuse makes a partner feel insulted and belittled. Examples of verbal abuse are constant name-calling, yelling, or even spreading rumors. This type of abuse causes a partner to believe that the abuser does not support him or her. This abuse can happen through social media just as harmfully as it can through spoken word; according to Genesis Women’s Shelter, 1 in 4 dating teens is abused either online or through text by their partner. Emotional abuse is very similar to verbal abuse. Emotional abuse can range anywhere from criticizing language to refusing to communicate. It can cause partners to lose sight of themselves, resulting in a loss of confidence, canceling plans with loved ones and losing interest in old hobbies. Although financial abuse does not particularly relate to high-school relationships, it is the most common type of abuse seen in domestic violence cases. Abusers controlling money and how it is spent as well as denying partners the ability to work are examples of this type of abuse. Spiritual abuse uses religious practices to rationalize abusive behavior or to manipulate partners. Additionally, abusers will prevent partners from practicing their desired religious beliefs. This type of abuse causes partners to become submissive; abusers magnify partner’s sins or weaknesses while minimizing their own. Those spiritually abused are more likely to believe it is their fault, as reported by Genesis Women’s Shelter. Every .09 seconds, a woman is assaulted. Physical abuse is violent abuse that includes punching, reckless driving, using weaponry and attempted murder. The effects of this type of abuse are
most easily seen eye to eye, as many victims of physical abuse are left with bruises or other types of scarring. Physical abuse leads to fear, depression and sometimes alcoholism. Following the five types of abuse and their effects, Loveisrespect.org defines “open, honest and safe communication” as the key parts to having a healthy relationship. How does one lead a healthy relationship? There are five guidelines to maintaining a healthy, loving relationship: speak up, compromise, be supportive, each other and respect each other’s privacy. Everyone is going to disagree on something; it is simply human nature. Instead of letting disagreements or other issues took a toll on a relationship, do not be afraid to speak up. It is best to maturely discuss issues at hand, rather than holding it in. Again, disagreements are a natural part of any relationship. When disagreeing in a relationship, it is important to find a way to compromise. When compromising, think about resolving issues in a fair and balanced way. Unlike emotional or verbal abuse, healthy relationships focus on building each other up, rather than putting each other down. Offering support to one another is a very simple, yet effective way of expressing care. Reassure and encourage each other! Mutual respect is essential in healthy relationships. For example, a partner may dislike their partner’s favorite television show. Both of their opinions have value. It is best to make an effort to keep significant other’s ideas in mind. Additionally, respect each other’s privacy. Healthy relationships require space, and it is not healthy to share everything or be together constantly. Knowing what the five types of abuse are and the effects they have are the first steps in building a healthy relationship. Through speaking up, compromising, being supportive and respecting each other and each other’s privacy, it is possible for boys to be in loving relationships, in which they will not have to fear being called a rapist.