Page 185 - The Language of Composition 4e Teacher Edition Sample.indd

economic rights have transformed American Friedan set out to combat in 1963, when she 4
life, but they have hardly produced a matriarchy. identified a “feminine mystique” that con-
Indeed, in many arenas the progress of women strained women’s self-image and options. DIFFERENTIA TION chapter 4
DIFFERENTIATION
has actually stalled over the past 15 years. . . . Although men don’t face the same discrimi- 10
orld
Connections to W
If the ascent of women has been much natory laws as women did 50 years ago, they do Connections to World
At the end of paragraph 5, Coontz notes
exaggerated, so has the descent of men. Men’s face an equally restrictive gender mystique. At the end of paragraph 5, Coontz notes
that “in many arenas the progress of
irresponsibility and bad behavior is now a Just as the feminine mystique discouraged Conversation / Stephanie Coontz that “in many ar enas the pr ogr ess of
stock theme in popular culture. But there has women in the 1950s and 1960s from improving women has actually stalled over the past
women has actually stalled over the past
15 years.” Her article was published in
always been a subset of men who engage in their education or job prospects, on the 15 years.” Her article was published in
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs have been used for this sample chapter.
crude, coercive and exploitative behavior. assumption that a man would always provide 2012. You might ask students to discuss
ou might ask students to discuss
2012. Y
their sense of the “progress of women” in
What’s different today is that it’s harder for men for them, the masculine mystique encourages their sense of the “pr ogr ess of women” in
the subsequent decade or more. If you
to get away with such behavior in long-term men to neglect their own self-improvement the subsequent decade or mor e. If you
think it appr
opriate for your student popu-
relationships. Women no longer feel compelled on the assumption that sooner or later their think it appropriate for your student popu-
lation, you might bring up the 2022
to put up with it and the legal system no longer “ manliness” will be rewarded. lation, you might bring up the 2022
Supreme Court ruling that weakened wom-
condones it. The result is that many guys According to a 2011 poll by the Pew Research Supr eme Court ruling that weakened wom-
en’s right to choose, which prompted a lot
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
who would have been obnoxious husbands, Center, 77 percent of Americans now believe that en’ s right to choose, which pr ompted a lot
ogr
ess,
of discussion (and articles) about pr
behaving badly behind closed doors, are a college education is necessary for a woman to of discussion (and articles) about progress,
eof.
or lack ther
now obnoxious singles, trumpeting their bad get ahead in life today, but only 68 percent think or lack thereof.
behavior on YouTube. that is true for men. And just as the feminine
Their boorishness may be pathetic, but it’s mystique exposed girls to ridicule and harass-
much less destructive than the masculine mis- ment if they excelled at “unladylike” activities like DIFFERENTIA TION
DIFFERENTIATION
behavior of yore. Most men are in fact behaving math or sports, the masculine mystique leads to
Connections to T
xt
e
better than ever. Domestic violence rates have bullying and ostracism of boys who engage in Connections to Text
been halved since 1993, while rapes and sexual “girlie” activities like studying hard and behaving If students have read Brady’s “I Want a
If students have r
ead Brady’
ant a
s “I W
assaults against women have fallen by 70 percent well in school. One result is that men account Wife,” you might ask them to cross-
oss-
Wife,” you might ask them to cr
in that time. In recent decades, husbands have for only 2 percent of kindergarten and preschool reference the data about husbands
r
efer
ence the data about husbands
doubled their share of housework and tripled teachers, 3 percent of dental assistants and and household r esponsibilities Coontz
and household responsibilities Coontz
their share of child care. And this change is not 9 percent of registered nurses. presents in paragraphs 6–8. Would
pr
ould
esents in paragraphs 6–8. W
confined to highly educated men. The masculine mystique is institutionalized Coontz consider Brady’ s satir e invalid
Coontz consider Brady’s satire invalid
Among dual-earner couples, husbands with in work structures, according to three new today , or not?
today, or not?
the least education do as much or more house- studies forthcoming in the Journal of Social
work than their more educated counterparts. Issues. Just as women who display “masculine”
Men who have made these adjustments report ambitions or behaviors on the job are often
happier marriages — and better sex lives. penalized, so are men who engage in tradition- CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
ally female behaviors, like prioritizing family Y ou might have students look up the wor d
You might have students look up the word
• • • involvement. Men who take an active role in “mystique” or discover the historical impor -
“mystique” or discover the historical impor-
child care and housework at home are more tance of Friedan’s book. What messages
s book. What messages
tance of Friedan’
One thing standing in the way of further prog- likely than other men to be harassed at work. do both the “feminine mystique” and the
do both the “feminine mystique” and the
ress for many men is the same obstacle that held Men who request family leave are often “masculine mystique” (par . 11) give to
“masculine mystique” (par. 11) give to
women back for so long: overinvestment in viewed as weak or uncompetitive and face a women and men, accor ding to Coontz?
women and men, according to Coontz?
their gender identity instead of their individual greater risk of being demoted or downsized. And What is the cause and effect, and what
fect, and what
What is the cause and ef
personhood. Men are now experiencing a set men who have ever quit work for family reasons evidence does she offer?
fer?
evidence does she of
of limits — externally enforced as well as self- end up earning significantly less than other male
imposed — strikingly similar to the ones Betty employees, even when controlling for the effects
291
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CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
Why is it important that Coontz clarifies this
information in paragraph 7? Otherwise, what
role might Coontz’s audience have assumed
education would have played?
Conversation / Stephanie Coontz 291
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