Reading Martha McCaughey’s 2008
article “Caveman Masculinity:
Finding Manhood in Evolutionary Science” opened my eyes to something I
experience every day, but have never really noticed. McCaughey analyzes how
evolution and historic male behavior are used out of context to explain
masculinity, male sexual aggression, and ‘normal’ male behaviors. People have
been using cavemen as a justification for male violence, claiming that men
cannot help themselves because they have genes and behaviors inherited from
their prehistoric ancestors. According to this theory, sexual aggression, rape,
and promiscuity are due to the urgency to reproduce back in caveman times. Men
claim they are attracted to younger, attractive women due to their reproductive
viability because as cavemen, they needed to reproduce quickly. “Men are told
that their sexist double-standard concerning appearance is evolutionary,”
(McCaughey). Society has been lead to believe these ideas because they seem
scientific and have factual evidence, so the caveman ideology has become a
social norm.
In my opinion, evolution is not a valid reason for male aggression.
Men cannot act however they please and blame it on their manly, caveman genes.
Had cavemen passed on behaviors to us, I would have the urge to wear a fur pelt
and live in the wilderness, which I definitely do not. I do believe that genes
can account for mental illness or aggression, but not from cavemen and
certainly not for all males.
Cassie, this article really reminded me of Tough Guise 2 that we watched yesterday in class. Men use the excuse that it's in their genes from cavemen times and that we should just let boys be boys, but that's such a ridiculous notion. In cave men times it was the woman's job to tend to the camp and also gather other foods. I don't feel any pressing need to go berry picking all the time or clean my house constantly just because I am a woman. If we're not affected by our cavemen ancestors in this way, then why is it okay for men to use this excuse? And that's exactly what it is, an excuse. An excuse to ignore that we are teaching our boys to be violent and an excuse to act like vicious, hunting cavemen. Well boys, we aren't cavemen anymore and I think it's time to evolve.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you. I don't think it's fair that the actions of men are justified. It doesn't matter what our ancestors were like, because we have changed since the cavemen days. There is no excuse for using that as an excuse. I am sick of hearing the phrase "boys will be boys" because what does that mean? That it's only natural for boys to be aggressive and belligerent? We aren't wild animals, we are human beings.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with very civilisation is that it gets it ass kicked by the Barbarians every single time. Can you figure out why?
DeleteCivilisation makes men soft. They cannot protect their women and children when the barbarians come.
They always come in the end and I am sure all the feminists will be in the trenches fighting beside their men when the time comes.
My point is times are good and bad asses are not required. But you never know when you will need them and will there be any left when you do.