If you somehow stumble across Michael Kimmel he’ll most likely give you an in depth and precise breakdown of the marveled “guy code”. In his essay, Kimmel explains that the guy code is a collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together compose what it generically means to be a “man”(Kimmel 542). Throughout his essay he discusses and dissects each aspect of becoming a man and the specific rules one must follow of the guy code. The text begins with a preposterous list of ten rules that are what Kimmel calls a “Real Guy’s Top Ten List” that broadly expand on how a man must act or what one must do in order to achieve society’s impeded manhood. The list refers to various aphorisms such as, “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Take it like a Man”, and “Nice Guys Finish Last” along with many others (Kimmel 541). The central focus point and message of these so-called “rules of manhood” is that a man cannot submit to weakness and must never show sensitivity or emotion. In 1976, the social psychologist, Robert Brammon comprised a list of the four basic rules for masculinity: “No Sissy Stuff!”, “Be a Big Wheel”, Be a Sturdy Oak”, and “Give em Hell” (Kimmel 545). Brammon is basically saying to be a man you cannot be gay or effeminate, must have wealth and power, be able to be in control during a crisis, and finally to live life on the edge. The most shocking aspect of this set is that it is
If you somehow stumble across Michael Kimmel he’ll most likely give you an in depth and precise breakdown of the marveled “guy code”. In his essay, Kimmel explains that the guy code is a collection of attitudes, values, and traits that together compose what it generically means to be a “man”(Kimmel 542). Throughout his essay he discusses and dissects each aspect of becoming a man and the specific rules one must follow of the guy code. The text begins with a preposterous list of ten rules that are what Kimmel calls a “Real Guy’s Top Ten List” that broadly expand on how a man must act or what one must do in order to achieve society’s impeded manhood. The list refers to various aphorisms such as, “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Take it like a Man”, and “Nice Guys Finish Last” along with many others (Kimmel 541). The central focus point and message of these so-called “rules of manhood” is that a man cannot submit to weakness and must never show sensitivity or emotion. In 1976, the social psychologist, Robert Brammon comprised a list of the four basic rules for masculinity: “No Sissy Stuff!”, “Be a Big Wheel”, Be a Sturdy Oak”, and “Give em Hell” (Kimmel 545). Brammon is basically saying to be a man you cannot be gay or effeminate, must have wealth and power, be able to be in control during a crisis, and finally to live life on the edge. The most shocking aspect of this set is that it is