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One crisis of masculinity is the perceived to threat of masculinity that seems to have taken place mostly beginning in the middle of last century. As noted by Dave Hill in a recent survey explains that the changes in the cultural understanding of what it is to be a man, and of what masculinity is, “Never again will masculinity be as containable or as easy to describe in false terms as it has been during the last 150 years” (Buchbinder 3). In other words, never again will masculinity be defined in false context as it has been for the past century as the materiality of the future will see young men having more flexibility in the masculinity they assign to themselves. One example is the many changes and revolutions today that put women at income levels that are equal with and in many cases outstrip those of males in the same age group. Thus, the result is that males feel generally sidelined by that the traditional definitions of what masculinity means especially dominance in financial aspects, family matters and other areas of life. Also, with the rise of the second feminism wave and the civil rights movement society no longer allows for any unequal treatment of members in the society. The current generation of men feels as if women are receiving much better treatment than men. In my opinion, one of the major crises of masculinity that faces the modern contemporary modern society of today is the growing negative sentiment among tough men of today.

Nowadays, social phenomenon is known as the soft male has emerged.Robert Bly in proposing his soft male phenomenon theory explains “Sometimes even today when I look out at an audience, perhaps half the young males are what I'd call soft. They 're lovely, valuable people...they're not interested in harming the earth or starting wars”(Buchbinder 9). The soft male phenomenon refers to Robert Bly implies a scenario where the western world has lost the essence of the deep masculine attributes. By this he states that men have lost their traditional way of continuity thus the previously set rites of passage which ushered men into adulthood no longer exist. The result is a generation of men who cannot fulfill their traditional duties and responsibilities in the family. A case in point is the effect of the industrial revolution on the family setup. As the factories came about men had to leave their families and go look for work for prolonged periods. This created a break in traditions in which men were absent thus were unable to play their roles in upbringing their male children in the customs of the traditional male roles. The idea though having some basis in fact should take into account that women are no longer are restricted to home making duties as was in the past instead women today earn a living with men thus creating a crisis in defining the masculinity on the idea of a provider.

From his book Studying Men and Masculinities, David Buchbinder points out, “Ideology is often misunderstood as signifying a system of belief that is outmoded, clumsy, or different from or opposed to one's own set of beliefs”(Buchbinder 34). Ideology is often misinterpreted to mean an a set of beliefs and traditions that are backward, but in reality it is the essence or context from which every member of the society formulates their convictions and governs the conditions of their existence and relationships. These misinterpretations mostly refer to the alternative to the societal definition of gender in the society and the roles expected of each gender. The ideology that the society subscribes to forms the basis of the reaction people will have. This in regards to masculinity is perspective to the current reactions of the equality revolution that is ever more becoming accepted in what is supposed to be a male patriarchal society. However it seems to have women take over what were initially assumed to be traditional male roles. An example would the reactions which are expressed in David Fincher's movie Fight Club which puts the blame on the issue of absentee fathers who brought failed to provide direction in traditional masculinity what is for the juvenile males. Hence, Buchbinder also states,"the implication here is that an earlier generation of men failed in their responsibilities towards their sons, who therefore perforce grew up in the care of women"(Buchbinder 2).

In concluding it becomes apparent that the men are facing a crisis with what is masculinity. Men have lost their traditional way of continuity. The result is a generation of men who cannot fulfill their traditional duties and responsibilities in the family. Also, due to sons grow up with absent fathers, mother replaces father's status.

Works Cited

Buchbinder, David The end of masculinity, Thinking (through) gender, Study Men and Masculinities, Rutledge. 2013

Bly,R. Iron John: a book about men, Shaftesbury, Dorset and Rockport, MA: Element. 1991

Hill, D. The Future of Men, London: Phoenix 1997

Fight Club. directed by D. Fincher, USA, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. 1991