Eric Plant
SUPA English- Benton 1 B/D Growing Up Male in America
Young men growing up in America today are bombarded by ads and cultural stereotypes that make us who we are. Masculine, macho, tough, strong and athletic are what comes to mind when you think what it means to be a man in America. These characteristics are reinforced on us through advertisements, professional athletes, movies and television; by the time boys reach high school society has already laid its ground work on how to behave. These stereotypes often portray violence as being accepted and a part of every mans life. Toy guns, knives and other weapons are common place in young boy’s hands, my cousins and I would always play with toy guns and knives seeing who could “kill” the bad guy and win the game.
The G.I. Joes that I played with when I was younger were always super “jacked” had six-pack, huge biceps and always carried an over sized machine gun and multiple knives. These violent action figures are what young boys see growing up and most end up believing these action figures are what men should look like. But in reality it is impossible for most boys to grow up and look like G.I. Joe or the wrestlers in the WWE.
The masculine men that are shown on television shows and in movies that young men watch every day are seen as heroes to the boys. I remember when I was younger always watching Walker Texas Ranger, movies like Rambo and all those corny Steven Segal films. The characters in these shows and movies are all muscular men who always save the “damsel in distress” or save the town, and walk away at the end the hero. The hero is what I always wanted to be and I think everyone wants to be the hero, to be the one everyone looks up to.
Growing up today in 2010 is different from when I grew up in the early to mid-1990's, I feel that today boys have more access to technology and sort of grow up faster. Boys today see things sooner then I ever did, all they have to do is go on every kids favorite website, youtube, and search what ever they want and instantly view it. I never really used my computer or played any video games until 7th or 8th grade, but boys now days grow up playing Call of Duty and surfing YouTube. My one cousin who is no more then six years old is better at the violent video game Call of Duty then I ever will be, young boys today spend more time inside then past generations. My dad when he was growing up never watched T.V. and cant understand why I would sometimes rather watch television then go outside and do yard work. There is no denying it growing up in 2010 is unlike growing up in any other time in history, the changes are inevitable and just one part of an ever-changing society.
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SUPA English- Benton 1 B/D
Growing Up Male in America
Young men growing up in America today are bombarded by ads and cultural stereotypes that make us who we are. Masculine, macho, tough, strong and athletic are what comes to mind when you think what it means to be a man in America. These characteristics are reinforced on us through advertisements, professional athletes, movies and television; by the time boys reach high school society has already laid its ground work on how to behave. These stereotypes often portray violence as being accepted and a part of every mans life. Toy guns, knives and other weapons are common place in young boy’s hands, my cousins and I would always play with toy guns and knives seeing who could “kill” the bad guy and win the game.
The G.I. Joes that I played with when I was younger were always super “jacked” had six-pack, huge biceps and always carried an over sized machine gun and multiple knives. These violent action figures are what young boys see growing up and most end up believing these action figures are what men should look like. But in reality it is impossible for most boys to grow up and look like G.I. Joe or the wrestlers in the WWE.
The masculine men that are shown on television shows and in movies that young men watch every day are seen as heroes to the boys. I remember when I was younger always watching Walker Texas Ranger, movies like Rambo and all those corny Steven Segal films. The characters in these shows and movies are all muscular men who always save the “damsel in distress” or save the town, and walk away at the end the hero. The hero is what I always wanted to be and I think everyone wants to be the hero, to be the one everyone looks up to.
Growing up today in 2010 is different from when I grew up in the early to mid-1990's, I feel that today boys have more access to technology and sort of grow up faster. Boys today see things sooner then I ever did, all they have to do is go on every kids favorite website, youtube, and search what ever they want and instantly view it. I never really used my computer or played any video games until 7th or 8th grade, but boys now days grow up playing Call of Duty and surfing YouTube. My one cousin who is no more then six years old is better at the violent video game Call of Duty then I ever will be, young boys today spend more time inside then past generations. My dad when he was growing up never watched T.V. and cant understand why I would sometimes rather watch television then go outside and do yard work. There is no denying it growing up in 2010 is unlike growing up in any other time in history, the changes are inevitable and just one part of an ever-changing society.
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