Masculinity and the 40 Year Old Virgin (6 mins, 5 MB)<\/a>\n<\/ul>\nI saw the movie. And while I was also in shock at the way women were discussed and treated, I laughed at the main character Andy while he tried to navigate the pressures to be what a man is ‘supposed’ to be and do what a man is ‘supposed’ to do. <\/p>\n
Just as women face stereotypes to behave a certain way, so do men. Men are somehow supposed to be sexual experts, responsible for their own pleasure as well as somehow reading the minds of their partners in order to provide their pleasure as well. Stereotypes prescribing male behaviour are just as damaging as those proscribing that for females. <\/p>\n
There is a need for a broader education for men, just as there is for women. More stories of being a father, son, brother, and lover are needed to counter historical tales of historical political leaders and to provide insight for future fathers, sons, brothers, and lovers. <\/p>\n
This education needs to begin in with non-gender specific parenting in early childhood. It should include skill building in all necessary skills: creating a home, finding and preparing food, maintaining and repairing the home and all its technology as well as the skills for use in the larger world (like reading and writing, banking, going places, etc.)<\/p>\n