Tough Guise: Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity

[plantwomyn]

8. What "attributes" are you talking about?

In the video from 2:33-3:15 the stats given are not "attributes" nor are they "characteristics" they are crimes. None of these crimes "ensure the survival of humans as a species" and in fact, disproportionately harm women and children.
The question I have is: What do YOU attribute the seeming acceptance of this violence by men against humanity and in particular women and children? You seem to believe that this violence merely needs to be channeled. Conversely, I believe that this violence needs to be seen as unacceptable conduct by society and by "real men" in particular. If it isn't the media, then it follows that the male population is at fault for allowing this conduct to continue and sanctioned.

Don't get me wrong, women teach their sons how to treat women. But once out from under their mothers "aprons" it's their male peers and mentors that the take their cues from. Many men claim that a woman cannot teach a boy to be a man. If this is true then men have to step up to the plate and take responsibility for the violence that, young men in particular, perpetrate on our society.

Your post seems to say that violence is part and parcel of "who we are as men". But "strength, independence, toughness and respect" are NOT inherently violent characteristics. So why does it seem that violence is the overwhelming method that all too many men use to express their "masculinity"?