JAMES ZANK
Role of men in society narrow
' ■ » mo ^ummw MJIUC II1CIIU5 dllU 1
planted a big garden. Although
“*■ I had helped with my parents’
garden a little bit while growing up,
this was a much different experience.
For one thing, I had never had to
till sodded soil, as my parents’ gar
dens always were previously defined
areas. This was a new garden, and the
workload was about triple what I’d
previously experienced. ,
Despite the back-breaking labor,
this garden was a lot of fun. It wasn’t
until later that I realized why.
Since then, I learned about what
has been dubbed the men’s move
ment. This movement — or move
ments, as there are a variety of opin
ions on the subject — addresses the
role of men in our culture and how
this role affects men’s identities.
When I first learned about this
movement, I was a bit skeptical. Why
did men need a movement? The
women’s movement has had an im
pacton our society, with good reason.
Women have been oppressed in our
culture and have been struggling to
gain equal rights, and they continue
to do so.
The more I thought about it, how
ever, the more I came to realize that
the men’s movement was just as
important as the women’s movement
and that both had beneficial goals.
Much of the drive behind the
women ’ s movement is to give women
a choice as to the type of life they
lead. For women, that initially cen
tered on being allowed the same
opportunities for employment, wages
and a chance to decide what to do
with their lives instead of being
compelled to live a Donna Reed life
style that the social values of Amer
ica once imposed.
In a similar fashion, the men’s
movement seeks to free men from the
burden of their role in society.
Opponents are quick to point out
that the white male has the best posi- ;
tion on the social totem pole in
America. They subsequently wonder
why men are complaining.
In the book “Iron John,” one of the
leaders of the men’s movement, Robert
Bly, identifies some of the problems
that men suffer. A man is expected to
work 40-plus hours a week in a post- ,
The current role of
men in our culture
helps to inhibit both
sexes.
Industrial-Revolution job. That often
alienates him from his family, leav
ing his children largely fatherless,
building a wall of resentment be
tween him and his wife but still re
quiring the man to be tough, to hide
his feelings and to avoid quiche.
Although this is an extreme depic
tion, it is rooted in some essential
truths of our culture. With these sorts
of demands, is it any wonder that men
are more likely to be alcoholic, com
mit suicide or become homeless?
The current role of men in our
:ulture helps to inhibit both sexes.
Fathers are expected to be the “good
provider” in the family. Even after
numerous years of double-income
families, men are still being expected
to work long, exhaustive hours.
In this way, women have it a little
tetter than men. It is far more accept
able for a women to choose to stay at
lome after bringing a child into the
world than it is for a man. Some
women are able to both work and care
"or their families by flexible work
scheduling or working from their
lomes. True, women often are cheated
Iscally in the bargain, but their choices
arc a bit more humane.
Bly’s fundamental assertion is that
men need to reach into their souls and
Find the Iron John, a sort of wild man
within.
Iron John is not a macho, earth
scorching, war-mongering beast but
a man who is in touch with the world
around him, who husbands the land,
wno is nunuring ana in tune wun
those he loves, a man who also is
assertive, takes action and acts as a
protector of those things he cares abouL
Men’s contemporary roles seem
artificial and contrived. Men largely
are not called on to act as protectors
and nurturers of their family. They
are money- and resource-bringers.
Women still have retained much of
their roles as the ones who bring life
into the world, and through the last
three decades, have gained some of
the respect and rights due them.
It also seems like women in our
culture have a better support system
if the relationships between the women
I know are any indication. They share
their problems, hopes and fears with
one another and act to encourage one
another. They laugh together and cry
together.
Men do a lot of what they call
“male bonding,” but often it leaves
much to be desired. It often is just
dulling the pain of life over beer and
football, with little or no significant
attempt to cope with feelings.
That is how this summer’s garden
brought out something I’d never rec
ognized before. Working with my
friends, devoid of the conventional
male crutches, we discovered each
other. We worked together toward
the common goal of bringing life to a
chunk of backyard.
We saw each other for the strengths
and weaknesses we possessed, but
instead of putting each other down as
some men might, we coped by help
ing each other and teaching each other.
Not just about gardening, but about
who we are and what we would like
out of our lives.
Men need not be trapped by their
roles. Women continue to prove that
these roles can be cast off if a person
is willing to defy the conventional in
search of what feels more appropriate
to the individual.
In a culture where men are all loo
often told not to feel, I felt a growing
friendship between a group of adult
men and recognized how finite the
role of manhood is, as portrayed by
our culture.
Zank is a junior art and English major
and a Daily Nebraskan columnist.
ANDY FREDERICK
Little problems need attention
here are a lot of things wrong
with the world. We all know
the big ones: hunger, war,
poverty, homelessness, hate, Dan
Quayle.
There are other problems that are
not so big or important, and their so
lutions seem more within reach.
Following is a list of problems that
I would like to see solved and things
I would like to see changed. The solu
tions to some arc more fantastical
than others. But it’s fun to dream.
Problem 1: Reckless drivers. My
biggest gripe is with people who run
red lights. I’m not even talking about
normal red lights. I’m talking about
those red lights where the other street’s
green is delayed for about five sec
onds to give people much more lime
to run the red without killing anyone.
My solution: put those ti: e-shred
ding parking lot protectors at every
intersection and have them pop up as
soon as the light turns red, then watch
people quickly learn that the yellow
light means “slow down,” not “speed
up.”
Problem 2: Parking. There isn’t
enough of it. I’m sure that doesn’t
surprise anyone. But the problem isn’t
really that there aren’t enough park
ing spaces. The problem is that cars
are a waste of space.
The average person doesn’t spend
all that much time in a car. Maybe an
hour a day. And when people are not
using their cars, they need to find
some place to store them.
The average car can carry from
four to six people and also has a good
deal of trunk space. But the average
car usually carries only one person at
a time and the trunk space is rarely
used.
Only the future holds the answer to
this problefa. Cars must someday be
replaced with one-person, computer
controlled pods that continuously roam
I * ~_I
It’s better to let
people choose paths
for themselves than
tg force them to
follow artificial re
strictions.
the streets waiting for someone to
summon them.
Either that or we need a whole
mess of taxis.
Problem 3: Sidewalks. No, not
paying for them. I’m talking about
where they’re placed. We all learn in
school that the shortest distance be
tween two points is a straight line.
Except when using sidewalks.
The solution to this problem is not
difficult at all — nor is it mine. I have
been told of a recently constructed
university that did not lay sidewalks.
With no artificial restrictions on
movement, the students always look
the most sensible routes. After a year,
sidewalks were laid everywhere that
the students had worn paths.
That’s food for thought that can be
applied to other things besides side
walks. It’s better to let people choose
paths for themselves than to force
them to follow artificial restrictions.
And that brings me to the next prob
lem.
Problem 4: Term limits. Recently,
an astonishing number of people have
decided that everyone is voting badly
except for themselves. Rather than
curbing their own habit of automati
cally voting for the incumbent, people
would rather limit freedom of choice
by forcing politicians out of office
after a set number of years. Thus,
people would be prevented from re
electing good, honest, experienced
politicians. Restricting freedoms is
> never the answer.
The preferable alternative to term
limits is to shift the restrictions from
the politicians to the voters. People
who want term limits are the prob
lem, so obviously the solution is to
prevent them from voting. Then the
rest of us democracy-loving Ameri
cans can continue to vote for whom
ever we want.
Problem 5: Cats. Somehow people
have gotten the idea that cats should
be free to go anywhere they want to.
People claim that cats are inde
pendent creatures who need to satisfy
their urge to prowl and hunt and
whatnot. If that’s the case, take them
to the forest and set them free. But if
a cat is to be kept as a pet, it should be
kept inside.
A person cannot claim to care about
a pet if it is allowed to roam freely.
Animals are less intelligent than chil
dren. A parent who let a 3-year-old
run around outside would be grossly
irresponsible.
Driving, parking, sidewalks, term
limits and cats. They’re hardly issues
that would shake the world. But they
occasionally rattle mine a little bit,
and maybe yours as well. And if find
ing the solution to one tiny problem
makes life a little more enjoyable, it
is worth looking for.
Frederick is a senior news-editorial ma
jor and a Daily Nebraskan columnist.
HORIZONS
A seminar to help you
prepare for personal and professional decisions.
v November 1 & 2,1991
Mayo Medical Center ■ Rochester, Minnesota
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
■ Laughter: A Gift of Your Being to Light Up Dark Places
■ Transition: From New Graduate to Expert Nurse
■ Enhancing Your Personal and Professional Image
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
■ Financial Planning ■ Critical Care Nurse Internship
Program ■ Preparing for Your Job Search
■ Collaborative Practice - What It Is And What It Isn't
■ State Boards: Are You Ready? ■ Healthcare in a
Changing Environment ■ New Kid on the Block
$10 registration fee covers sessions, instruction materials
and food. Mayo Medical Center will cover the cost of
lodging for out-of-town participants.
Deadline for registration is October 22,1991
Call 1-800-545-0357 outside Rochester, or (507) 286-8579
for registration information and brochure.
Nursing Horizons is sponsored by
Mayo Center for Nursing
Rochester, Minnesota 55903-6057
Mayo Foundation is an affirmative action and equal opportunity educator and employer.
A Smoke Free Institution.
STEAMB
JANUARY 2-14 ★ 5, 6 OR 7 NIGHTS
BRECKEN
JANUARY 2-9 * 5, 6 OR 7 NIGHTS
VAIL/BEAVER
JANUARY 3-12 ★ 5 OR 7 NIGHTS
W*10TH ANNUAL
oS^ocPO08®, %
rTco^<es° <**£tf**i %
-v8o\'e,^ac»v0lvs^eSo0^aS % I
«*><'<*'*? ooP0'*’ Sg2' °n V .0\o<P % I
I ’gs^tfgsrsjjgss^'1
I
10th ANNUAL COLLEQIATE WINTER SKI BREAKS
TOLL FREE INFORMATION A RESERVATIONS
1-800-S21-B9111
