In today’s society, masculinity is increasingly seen as something to avoid at all costs. After all, the more feminine a man can act and appear the better it would seem. Cover Girl, a company that produces various makeup products, even went so far as to appoint a guy to be their spokesperson.
Let that sink in — Cover Girl chose a guy to be their cover model. This move further enhanced the pervasive message that being a traditional male, sans highlighter, foundation, groomed brows and enviable lashes is out, and the feminine, toned down version of the God-created male is in. However, this shouldn’t be the case as God’s version of masculinity was created for a purpose and should be praised not demeaned.
Recently, a group of students at UCLA formed a group called the Toxic Masculinity Committee. This committee’s purpose was to educate men on why their drive for aggression was a bad thing. However, it is the male’s natural propensity towards aggression that helps him serve in a protective capacity, keeping those who he loves safe from harm.
A situation that occurred in Cypress, California, is a perfect example of why male aggression, as God designed it, is a good characteristic. This occurrence happened at a Target store where Ismael Duarte and his teenage daughter were shopping. Duarte noticed a man following his daughter as they made their way through the store. Duarte blocked him from accessing his daughter and the man walked away. However, Duarte spotted him again, trying to use his cell phone to film up the skirt of another young lady. Duarte said that’s when he went into his “protect mode.”
After seeing what the man was trying to do, Duarte kicked the cell phone away from the man and knocked him to the floor. At once, the man scrambled back to his feet and ran away. However, Duarte wasn’t to be deterred. He and his wife raced after the man, taking photographs of his license plate and car as he made his getaway. Duarte turned this vital information into the police and the man was later arrested for his actions in the store.
There is likely no one who would fault Duarte’s actions in Target that day. He protected his own daughter and even came to the aid another young lady who just happened to be in the store that day. However, even though many would applaud his actions, the general consensus of society says something different.
One of the characteristics that gets lost when complaints of “toxic masculinity” arise is the fact that ambition, aggression and sometimes even violence can also be used for the good of society, such as in the incident mentioned above. The end result of bashing masculinity might be fewer men like Duarte who are willing to stand up when necessary to protect others. Today’s young boys are being taught that their biologically-influenced traits most associated with masculinity like aggression and ambition are wrong. This can have devastating consequences down the road if the current path isn’t altered.
Dennis Prager, who recently wrote a column called “Is America Still Making Men?” said one of the most important questions every society must ask to ensure its own survival is “How do we make good men?” If this question isn’t answered or masculinity is watered down, a society ends up with a group of men who “will likely do much harm.” Conversely, men who are taught from childhood up how to “channel their drives in positive directions make the world a much better place.” This is because they learn how to take responsibility for their selves as well as those around them who need protecting.
Turning boys into good men, not turning boys into women should be the focus of society today. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the path America is choosing and that could have devastating consequences in the decades to come.
~ 1776 Christian
