Recently while learning more about Modern Day Feminism, I also looked to the opposite side to see how the evolution of masculinity in America complemented this. Starting in the 1960's, the ideal American man was derived from pure European values: the "Genteel Patriarch" and the "Heroic Artisan" were characterized by men who could own and manage their own land, were honest toilers, and took care of their community and family. The new era following the Revolutionary War made way for the new ideal of masculinity: "The Self-Made Man."
This man leveraged the period of financial mobility and economic freedom. He was no longer defined by the land he owned, but had to increasingly prove himself by his own accomplishments, particularly in overt public displays. It made me recall the piece about Politics of Housework and how the author detailed men's reluctance to help out with housework because it felt trivial and fleeting, that they would rather partake in work that had lasting results and gave them a sense of self-importance for achieving. Comparing this to how the image of the Self-Made Man dominated ideals of masculinity, I found it interesting to see how this compounded to counter and undermine the issues of women as well.
This definitely did bring me back to thinking about the articles we read regarding men and women's typical and defined roles in mid-late 20th century. Having men be regarded for their land owned as well as their esteemed jobs brings back the inference of women contradictorily simply having to manage household work and their children. The changing roles and expectations of men is proportionate to that of women, and it is very interesting to view it from a male perspective as it inevitably points to womens' truths, too.
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