Timothy Birdnow

I do disagree with part of this assessment insofar as a big part of the old ideal of masculinity involved adhering to a righteous moral code based on our Judeo-Christian heritage. The masculine man may have had to kill sometimes but he tried not to and he defended the weak and vulnerable. Wyatt Earp was a masculine man. John Wesley Hardin not so much.

The frontier did have a profound impact on the American psyche. Even though most people did not live on the frontier it still sparked the American imagination and offered a safety valve for people; they could dream of just leaving everything behind and moving out west. In fact there was the "Turner Thesis" by a man named Frederick Jackson Turner who argued the closing of the frontier would bring profound psychological changes to America. I think he was right; the Progressive era began with that closing and Americans turned to big government to care for them once the old virtues of masculinity on the frontier were no longer being celebrated. There were no mountains left to climb so Americans set about laying the mountains low - and themselves.

I would add that the Free love movement and then sexual revolution made men far less masculine as they turned from the code of honor they once employed to an amoralism that put seduction at the top of their list -and this led to their indulging the feminists, who, empowered by new technology that allowed them to work like men and by the Pill which fred them from the consequences of sexuality, began demanding that men be tamer, more controllable, more like pets than wild animals.

It is a fact that male testosterone levels have been steadily dropping since the early 20th century and that woman have gained testosterone at this same time. Woman behave more like men did in times past. Men now are not just behaving in a more feminine fashion but actually are now trying to BE women. Our society is overly feminized, no question.

We desperately need more "toxic masculinity" directed in a healthy way. So much of the gang violence we see now is a direct result of no masculinity, of an over-feminized society. Boys seek to be masculine but don't know how to go about it. So they commit crimes and fight and shoot people to prove they aren't women. In times past that would be directed in a healthy way - in the military, or as explorers, or in hard manual labor. But now it has no outlet so winds up breaking bad.

BLM riots and Antifa and the rest are another poisoned outlet for this. We need a new frontier to channel the energy of the boys.

Just History

A Historical Perspective American Masculinity
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, American masculinity was closely linked to physical strength and a rugged relationship with nature. Figures like Theodore Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, cowboys, and other "tough guys" epitomized this ideal. These men were admired for their physical abilities, skill in navigating and surviving in the wilderness and dominance over the natural environment. The archetype of the ideal man was self-reliant and capable of thriving in the harsh, untamed regions of the country.
The Paradox of Disappearing Wilderness
This concept of masculinity based on nature arose during a paradoxical period. Central to these ideals, the wilderness was rapidly vanishing as urban areas expanded. By the 1890s, the American frontier was officially closed, with the 1890 census indicating that no unsettled territories remained in the United States. Despite this, the image of the lone pioneer who ventured into the wild and relied on his own strength and resourcefulness continued to serve as a counterpoint to the increasing urbanization and the end of the frontier.
Modern Masculinity: A Contrast in Attributes
If a modern American man were to find himself in the late 1800s, it is uncertain whether he would be regarded as masculine by the standards of that era. Contemporary masculinity encompasses a broader range of qualities beyond physical strength and a connection to nature, including intellectual achievements, emotional intelligence, and technological skills. The rugged individualism and physical toughness that defined masculinity in the late 1800s might be seen as lacking in many modern men, who are more accustomed to urban, technologically advanced lifestyles. The reliance on modern conveniences and a generally more sedentary way of life contrasts sharply with the late 19th-century ideal of a man expected to be physically powerful and self-sufficient in the wilderness.
Conclusion
The evolution of American masculinity from the late 19th century to today reflects significant societal changes. While physical strength and a connection to nature once defined masculinity, modern perspectives include a more comprehensive range of attributes. This shift highlights the broader transformations in American life, from a frontier society to an urban, technologically driven one.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 09:53 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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