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^<'<*'*? ooP0'*’ Sg2' °n V .0\o