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GROUP A

Roshni B

Watching Naomi Wolf interview Harvey Mansfield, on C-SPAN’s show After Words, was painful. Their back and forth battle was reminiscent of witnessing a bloody jousting match. The sound of the lance’s wood splitting matches that of Mansfield’s words when he describes what he believes the role of women in society should be.

Mansfield describes the difference between masculinity and manliness as physical appearance versus a general attitude. He explains that men are right to expect their wives to be lying in wait with a martini for them after a long day, and for women to expect nothing in return. Wolf is quick to question why reciprocity should not be expected. Our current generation is full of powerful women that, not only work full-time, but also take care of the household and community. Mansfield argues that men do not feel needed anymore; the importance of their role in society has been reduced. It is not wrong to question, why men have not taken more initiative to have a greater significance in the household.

Wolf is able to reveal that Mansfield is a contradiction of himself throughout the interview. His interpretation of a “manly” man is one that does not submit to women; however, he repeatedly submits to Wolf’s criticisms of the book. The strides women have made in the realm of equality are stacking-up. Mansfield may not approve, but society needs women to function properly. Men have allowed themselves to crumble from a Superman- like figure, to a couch-potato that chooses to live off unemployment. The world will label people as they choose to portray themselves. Women were once seen as weak, but they decided to change the status-quo. Men can return to their state of glory, but that can only come when they accept their responsibility in and out of the household. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dylan M

In this interview, Harvey Mansfield and Naomi Wolf engage in a heated discussion about a book Harvey had recently written. Manliness, written by the Harvard professor, is a book that’s topic lies no further than the title. It is about Manliness, more specifically what is it exactly that evokes this word in certain men, more so than others. It is an interesting topic, one that delves into the realms of science, philosophy, and human nature.

It doesn't take long to realize that the two have inherently different views on this controversial topic. Mansfield's simplest definition of manliness is having confidence in situations of risk. Wolf acknowledges that this is true in a sense that men tend to seek out risk more often, however women are constantly faced with situations of risk when protecting their children, and they confidently face the situation. In this sense, she explains, the term would be 'womanliness.'

These issues bring up the notion of nature vs. nurture. Why is it that men dominate the high-risk labor force? It can be because there is something in our DNA, our human nature, which draws men towards these dangerous situations. Or possibly it is hundreds of years of society, imprinting certain axioms into our behavior. Mansfield without a doubt would argue the former.

The roots of their differences rest in the term Mansfield uses so often, Manliness. They both agree that this term is valorized, which leads to the main discrepancies in this discussion. While Mansfield brings up an interesting topic that is not often discussed, his attitude and mannerisms come off as a bit stark, and at times misogynistic. The interview proves how difficult it is to define some of the traits that inherently construct who we are as human beings.

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Justin D

A man, to be considered manly, must act in a particular way and have certain virtues. The role of a woman, being less intelligent than a man, is to serve the man and act as a mother and caretaker of children. Fortunately, these ideas are now considered archaic and invalid, although some still cling to them. Harvey Mansfield, a Harvard professor and author of the book Manliness, is among them.

Mansfield is concerned with a society that is becoming increasingly gender neutral. There are definite differences between men and women, and at no point in history have men and women been considered equal. Mansfield argues that society should recognize these differences.

Mansfield is interviewed by Naomi Wolf, a feminist and promoter of women's rights. Wolf is concerned with, and even offended by many of the arguments in Mansfield's book. In a society that recognizes clear differences between men and women there is no room for transgender individuals whose gender identity does not conform to conventional notions of being male or female. The greatest concern that I have is that Mansfield, being a professor who believes that men are more intelligent, will clearly be biased when grading the work of male and female students.

Wolf compares the sexist views of Mansfield to racist views. How is believing that men are smarter than women different than believing that one race is smarter than another? Mansfield states that while racial stereotypes are untrue, stereotypes regarding women are often correct.

Being a man, I was offended by almost every idea that Mansfield discussed. It is surprising that Mansfield is able to publish a book based on sexism and even more surprising that he continues to be a professor at one of the most prominent universities in the US. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Devina K

The discussion with Harvey Mansfield, regarding his book Manliness, was a battle of extremes. Naomi Wolf argues for the side of feminists who disagree with the words of Mansfield. He describes the concept of manliness as, men asserting confidence, taking charge, and seeking out risk. This is a generalization of all men, and the concept of manliness can be completely subjective.

Naomi Wolf represents the opinions of many feminists, and argues that Mansfield book disregards almost forty years of feminism through his claims. By arguing that women and children need the protection of men, he ignites the flame of feminists. When Wolf points out that women can also show qualities of manliness, Mansfield justifies this by saying the women are only manly when absolutely necessary. Men are more likely to seek out risk in any situation, another generalization. His argument that men take different actions than women contradicts the gender-neutral society that we live in. He also points out that women are reluctant to admit their dependence on men. Though women have traditionally been dependent on men for economic reasons, many women today are independent from men.

Though many of his arguments seem primitive, he is correct in that men have social pressures to act manly. Many of the actions of men come from expectations of society rather than the nature of the person. Though neither Wolf, nor Mansfield are correct in their assumptions of men and women, they agree in pushing the characterizations of each gender to an extreme. I do not believe either gender can be characterized into a black or white stereotype. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

3

Jon B

It is hard to imagine a more ironic display than Naomi Wolf interviewing Harvey Mansfield about his book, Manliness. In the book, Mr. Mansfield attempts to define the colloquial term, “manliness,” by drawing from historical examples and constructing a theoretical framework. However, much of the interview consists of him putting forth opaque and often contradictory examples, which are effortlessly dissected and refuted by Ms. Wolf. In fact, the interview itself serves as an example of the flaws of Mr. Mansfield’s analysis, as Ms. Wolf’s demeanor is much more in line with his definition of manliness than is his own.

The difficulty in defining a term such as “manliness” rests predominantly with its relative nature. By attempting to define the term concretely, noting all those characteristics associated with manly men of the past, Mr. Mansfield fails to consider the shifting paradigm at the heart of its definition. Simply put, a man is considered to be manly if: 1) he embodies those virtues that are characteristic of men, and 2) he is relatively lacking, but not totally deficient, in those virtues that are characteristic of women. A man is considered more manly if he serves as a clearer example of the virtues of men while remaining distinctly masculine.

In the end, Mr. Mansfield’s attempt to define “manliness” seems more like a veiled criticism of changing gender roles than an honest attempt at defining what it is to be manly in our society. This fact is made more evident by his preoccupation with the feminist movement, for which he constructs a straw man to burn in effigy. Ms. Wolf spends a large portion of the interview educating Mr. Mansfield on the true tenets of feminism, and it is clear by the end that Manliness is a book worth its weight in toilet paper. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Erica A

Harvey Mansfield, author of the book Manliness, defines manliness as ‘confidence during a time of risk.’ Additionally, Mansfield states that we are currently living in a gender-neutral society that is challenging the ‘classic’ gender roles that have been prevalent in society from the beginning, and that are being pushed, more and more, into the background. This switching, or neutralizing, of roles was perpetuated by the women’s rights and feminist movements. Mansfield believes that these movements have pushed society into uncharted territory – there is no longer a clear and distinct place for men within society. Women have infiltrated every aspect of society. Some of those aspects were seen as strictly ‘manly’ beforehand. Ultimately, Mansfield argues that there are certain innate characteristics of the male sex that women are trying to imitate in order to promote and foster a non-discriminatory society.

Mansfield states that today’s society needs to valorize manliness. As a society, we need to find a distinct place for men once again. Interestingly, Mansfield also states that society needs to teach men how to be men, and teach them those aspects of manliness that are innate and distinct to the gender.

I do believe that we live in a society that has completely challenged traditional gender roles for both men and women. I also believe that we live in a ‘grey’ society that has left people somewhat lost and confused about how to conduct themselves within society. It is especially confusing when women are considered manly for asserting themselves and voicing their opinion on issues that affect them, and men are considered unmanly when they do not stand up with confidence for an issue. I believe that we are living in a time where roles are being redefined and people are looking for their new niche or place in the culture.

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4

Paul K

The Interview between Naomi Wolf and Harvey Mansfield, the author of the book, “Manliness,” displayed how different generations have culturally distinct viewpoints. Mansfield’s views on masculinity reflect a time prior to the 1950's. Then, as Wolf discusses the nuances of women in society today, Mansfield is hypocritical as he attempts not to offend her. Wolf as she defines the relative aspects of womanhood today, she is infuriated with Mansfield stereotypical outlook of masculinity. The conversation shows how Mansfield is out of touch with his conception of masculinity.

Mansfield still relies on the dogma that males play the dominate role in society. He believes it is the male that is still the main breadwinner who protects and provides for the household. In addition, he states that they are the risk takers and have more of an urge for adventure. His arguments on the masculine character are generalizations, and though they fit the general populace, there are misconceptions. In other words, women are also capable of being the main breadwinner and so on and so forth. Today, there are a substantial percentage of women in the workforce holding job status that previous generations have designated to only males. For instance, when Facebook went public, Sheryl Sandberg became the richest women in America. There is a higher percentage of women today that are becoming CEO’s of companies. Moreover, there are many more Ms. Big than Mansfield would care to realize. Hence, there are females having the responsibility of making executive decisions and utilizing their authority. It is not a question of masculinity rather it is a question of motivation.

However, in America there is still a wage gap between males and females. That should subside in the next generation as more women become leaders in soc

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Melissa A

According to Harvard Professor, Harvey Mansfield, every man is masculine but not all are manly. Mansfield challenges the notion of a gender-neutral society by dissecting the fundamental differences between the sexes in his theoretical book, Manliness. In the heated C-Span interview, fellow author, Naomi Wolf, defends over forty years of egalitarian feminist movements against a patriarchal civilization.

The fact that the interviewer is a woman is no coincidence; Wolf represents the contemporary uprising of the alpha-female in society. By questioning the essence of manliness in relation to the female counterpart, she asserts that women can be just as “manly” as men. Mansfield’s definition of manliness is dependent on confidence, assertiveness and the utility associated with taking risks. Based on these criteria, women are inherently at a disadvantage in the category of risk. Due to essential differences in the DNA of males and females, “manly” men are more likely to actively seek out risk whereas women engage in risk only out of necessity. However, more women hold riskier jobs now than ever before, migrating out of the home and into the workforce.

By Neoclassical theory, this deviation is not based on a change in taste towards women, but rather a shift in the relationship between labor and leisure in the household. Technology has increased the productivity of the archaic housewife, cutting down on the amount of time spent primarily as caregivers. This excess leisure time led women to diversify their skills set by seeking out higher education and unconventional occupations.

Life today is no longer dependent on the symbiotic relationship between males and females. With modern technology giving rise to sperm banks and artificial insemination, men can be removed from the baby-making equation almost entirely. Equal education and workforce opportunities have abolished the need for women to stay enslaved in abusive relationships. Females have gained a sense of manliness in their respect, transcending classical gender roles as the matriarch of their family.

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5

Janet L In the heated debate over the politics of “manliness”, Harvey Mansfield defends a moderately conservative standpoint on gender roles. Mansfield presents the current ideology of the gender-neutral society both in a contemporary and historical study. He presents his viewpoint by defining “manliness” as “confidence in the face of risk” and goes on to say that “a manly man must know what he is doing.” This ideology coincides with the Marxist view that the individual is heavily influenced by the developed class structure and nature of the society in which they are subject to. According to Marxist theory, the subordination of women can be seen as a form of class oppression, which is maintained to serve the interests of capitalism and the dominant class. The opportunity, demands, and interests of the people are shaped by the mode of production that characterizes the society they inhabit. Mansfield believes that the battle for female rights was shaped by the Marxist notion in which feminists adopted the idea that family structure served as a tool of patriarchal domination and oppression of women. However, Mansfield argues that in our gender-neutral society, where your sex matters as little as possible, we only aspire the thought of equality instead of practicing it. The majority of housework is still done by women as the majority of family income is still brought by men. He argues that we still instinctively lean towards this traditional division of sexes and gender roles. Mansfield goes on to conclude that this developed inequality is something that both sexes must come to terms with and respect. On one hand, Mansfield urges individuals, especially women, to understand, accept, and honor “manliness.” On the other hand, many would argue that we should continue to build, initiate, and promote the logistics of a gender-neutral society. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Daryl C

Harvey Mansfield, author of Manliness, offers some interesting criticism of our gender-neutral society. By embracing gender neutrality, the unique innate qualities that distinguish men from women and vice versa are denied and undervalued. One such characteristic is manliness, which Mansfield defines as assertiveness in risky situations. The author proposes that this trait is more commonly observed in men than in women. He further explains that reasons for risk-taking are different for both genders. Females would lay down their lives for their children because of their maternal instincts, whereas males seek risks more for the adrenaline rush. Men typically take on more physical risks than women. Other attributes of manliness include bluntness and stubbornness. A manly man goes forth with his own will, unwavering in the flood of opposition. Therefore, all men can be masculine, but not all can be manly.

Mansfield raises questions about our approach to gender equality in our society today. Naturally, men are better than women at certain tasks and vice versa. In that sense, no matter how much we advocate for gender equality, the innate characteristics of males and females still set them apart from each other. Otherwise, there is no need to have two genders in a gender-neutral society. Instead, the gender differences should be cherished and valued in our society. In order for that to happen, we need a society where men and women can be themselves.

In addition, we have different expectations for men and women, which automatically separates the population into two categories. These expectations confine us to our gender roles, but not as strictly as before. It is expected of men to be assertive and bold, while that is not the case for women. On the plus side, greater gender equality and less stringent gender roles do mean that men and women have more equal opportunities. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Michael J

The interview between Harvey Mansfield and Naomi Wolf was a somewhat useless look at 20th century attitudes toward gender. Mansfield’s rhetoric is clearly derived from the position of historical privilege men have enjoyed due in the household. This is the same history that many social movements of the 20th century railed against and sought 6

to subvert. Mansfield sees the glory and primacy of the “man” throughout history as a state of nature. This logic necessarily discounts the history of repression and subjugation implicit in this historical record. By discounting this record as “natural,” and in neo-Romantic fashion as “ideal,” Mansfield loses any ability to credibly comment on gender. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

GROUP B

Scott W

Harvey Mansfield disrupts nearly 40 years of feminist study in Manliness. The novel is featured on “After Hours,” a C-SPAN television program, with host Naomi Wolf. The interview quickly evolves into somewhat of a debate as Wolf (an acclaimed author and feminist) engages Mansfield in a dialogue about the novel’s contentious issues.

Manliness is centered around Mansfield’s take on the value and meaning of the word “manly.” “Every man is masculine,” he writes, “but not every man is manly.” He argues that manliness (which exists in varying levels) is directly related to the amount of risk taken. Therefore, Mansfield considers firefighters and soldiers to be among the most “manly” people in society. He uses the word “people” because he believes both men and women can be manly.

Employing the liberal paradigm, it is easy to see why Wolf is offended by Mansfield’s blatant attack on feminism. “In my work, I have fought for human rights and I consider myself to be ‘womanly.’” She is insulted by Mansfield’s assertion that risk-taking and courage are “manly” constructs. Wolf contends that the feminist movement does not seek to destroy manhood or make men feel insignificant, as Mansfield and the conservative paradigm sometimes suggest. Rather, it seeks to disprove traditional notions that women are unable to become anything more than housewives.

One of the most interesting parts of the interview is when Mansfield says: “it’s interesting how women’s rights leaders never went into politics (like civil rights leaders did)…women don’t have as much of an interest in politics as men do.” A bold statement, Wolf retorts by pointing to studies showing an increase in women in political positions. “After Hours” is an interesting venue upon which to present this interview. Although feminism has come a long way, it remains a highly controversial subject.

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Zulema R

Professor Mansfield’s interview with Naomi Wolf, keeps us wondering what his argument of gender differentiation was, since he vaguely explained his meaning of “Manliness.” His analysis included feminist’s theory in a narrow period of time and does not acknowledge modern feminists contribution to woman’s achievements. Constant contradictions about his written work devalue his theory, which could have some truth to it.

In this post feminist era, according to Mansfield, manly men are risk takers and assert themselves in society. I think most women do the same, are WE manly? Men are not trying to “keep them in their place” but have some autonomous power over women, which in practice is literally the same thing. Mansfield’s ideal society will create a “hybrid” family, a collaboration of manly men with assertive women. While the men allow women to 7

empower themselves with an education and career, women should not forget to give acknowledgement to the men. So one must still be submissive to men and continue the gender gap.

In a variation of the Neoclassical Theory, Barbara Bergmann says sex discrimination is not an aversion but a response to men’s oppression to continue making them inferior, answering why women earn a lower wage, work in inferior jobs and have less status. Mansfield’s argument of a manly man continues with this belief that sex discrimination is hardwired in society. His modern take on “manly” men is a continuation of a man centered world, something that for centuries women have changed.

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Christina P

For generations, women have been fighting for an equal place in society, yearning for the same acceptance, respect and responsibility as men. This interview between Naomi Wolf and Harvey Mansfield shattered common perceptions of feminism and forced viewers to rethink gender roles in our society. Harvey, a Harvard professor, Mansfield, perhaps ironically wrote a book titled Manliness. Mansfield believes that the increase of women in the workplace along with women taking on many of the same responsibilities as men in other aspects of life, has left little place for a man to feel “manly”.

The battle between feminist progress and masculine urges spurs an animated debate between the polar opposite intellectuals. The core of this debate is that men find it difficult to find a place for themselves in society when women can do everything themselves; raise children, make money and take care of their emotional needs. The struggle can be related to the Marxist argument that keeping different demographics of people separate can be beneficial for employers and the higher levels of society. Wolf might argue a more Neo-classical perspective and say that as long as the women were able to work and give the same output as a man in any given position, that they should be equal in pay and merit. Mansfield on the other hand believes that women are always striving to be more like men in the workplace and so men and women could ever be interchangeable.

Mansfield’s radical and outdated views on gender roles seem to highlight his insecurities in his manliness rather than highlight his macho attributes. It seems that in today’s society, men who are able to be manly even while working under or alongside of a woman are much more respected. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Daniel N

The C-SPAN episode Manliness presents conflicting opinions between feminist host Naomi Wolf and guest author Harvey Manfield. Manfield’s main argument states that men are naturally more assertive than women, explaining the achievement gap throughout history. He believes measures of manliness include a low sensitivity to opinions, risk taking, and stubbornness.

For example, Manfield argues that the manliest agent would require a 100% compensation for a client’s contract, rather than 15%. From a neoclassical perspective, a client would seek to maximize the profit margin on a contract by hiring an agent with the lowest compensation percentage. However, a rational client would not hire an agent demanding the entirety of a contract negotiated. According to Manfield’s notion that manliness correlates with assertiveness, a manlier agent would strike a larger contract. A rational client would compare the present value of a smaller contract with a higher profit margin to a larger contract with a smaller profit margin.

Neoclassical economist Gary Becker would claim that Harvey Manfield is putting women in their place. Manfield argues that there are physical and intellectual levels of manliness. He believes that the intellectual level is higher level of manliness, but that women have lacked this form because they cannot assert their dominance. He exemplifies these principles by noting there were no great female Greek philosophers, and the low representation of 8

women politicians. However, Wolf retorted that the number of female politicians has tripled in recent years. In regard to Greek philosophy, females were denied the extensive education necessary to philosophize. Manfield’s opinion is precisely why women have been denied these chances in society. It is not that women lack the assertiveness for intellectualism, but that they have been rejected these opportunities because of their physical shortcomings.

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Eric R

Harvey Mansfield is the author of “Manliness,” a book exploring the role of men and manliness in today’s supposedly “gender neutral” society. In his interview with fellow-author, Naomi Wolf, he discusses the brash male who seeks out risk with little regard to consequence. He calls it “manliness.” “Foolishness” would be the more appropriate term.

Over the course of the hour-long interview, Mansfield stubbornly clings to the the way in which the world used to operate. It seems as though he regrets the social advancements that have been made over the past 40 years, at least regarding gender. After all, “Racial stereotyopes are generally shown to be wrong, whereas sexual stereotypes... are shown to be true.” Mansfield longs for the days when a housewife would bring her husbands a martini after a long day at work, but refuses to suggest the interaction should go both ways. If a man returned the favor, it would “make the genders equal, er uh, interchangeable.” Slipping up, he reveals that his stance is no more than chauvinism masquerading as philosophy. Mansfield embodies Bergmann’s liberal view on gender discriminator: He does not personal dislike women, clearly loving his wife and daughter, he is simply fixated on the constraining gender roles that women have abandoned.

In other ways, Mansfield brings a face to the cartoonishly heartless “moneybags” corporatist of Marxism. “Compromise is unmanly” and therefore so is the marketplace. Following that line of logic, corporations obeying safety laws and regulations are also “unmanly.” After all, a manly corporation would push forward on production, ignoring the health and safety of their workers without “worrying about the consequences.” He closes the interview stating, “Manly wants 100%.” If the archaic manliness which Mansfield longs for were still around, one wonders what other atrocities would still exist today.

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Clarissa Z

The interview of Professor Mansfield focuses on the issues of masculinity and gender. In his book Manliness, Mansfield raises the question of “what is manliness”, and explores the definition of the term in a situation he calls “today’s gender-neutral society.” According to Mansfield, manliness is a confidence in the face of risk, which can be good and bad. He engages the conversation using both historical analysis and scientific discoveries, to emphasize the importance of recognizing the “difference” between men and women.

On the other hand, the interviewer, Naomi Wolf, criticizes Mansfield’s neoconservative argument by pointing out the generalization of his analyzing process. Wolf is the spokesperson for the third wave of the feminist movement, who has also written books about gender problems in the society. She argues that Mansfield’s understanding of feminists is prejudiced and relatively outdated. Wolf and Mansfield disagree on several issues including the definition of manliness, the role of feminist movements, and the sexual division of labor.

Mansfield’s ideology is in favor of neo-classical perspective. He believes that due to the biological differences, men and women are born with characters that result in different specialization. Since men typically bring in more money, and women do better at housework, the utility of the family will be maximized if men work and women stay home. On the other hand, Wolf believes that the lack of women’s presence in the philosophical 9

field and lower wage of female workers in the industry is a result of discrimination, which has been systematically built in our society throughout the history. Her idea of discrimination is similar to Marxist’s perspective, where women as a group, has less access to resources to begin with. In addition, the denial of women’s rights to education or legislation from the past widens the gap between men and women.

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Amanuel T

The interviewer's discontent towards Harvey Mansfield’s notion of manliness is palpable throughout the interview. Naomi Wolf, an avowed feminist, incessantly scoffs at Mansfield’s definition and understanding of manliness in respect to feminism. I found it compulsive that for the duration of the interview, Mansfield remained composed in all his retorts, while Wolf often rejoined aggressively. The temperament and interaction between Mansfield and Wolf truly manifests the tenets of the feminist movement.

Champions of the neoclassical paradigm ascribe sex discrimination to the historical responsibilities that women have assumed in the household. Thus, it is possible that Mansfield perception of gender roles is predicated on men’s aversion to domestic responsibilities. As Mansfield claims, it is fine for women to have an occupation, but the woman’s family role must not be interchangeable with the man’s role. He also claims the imperativeness of women to find balance between their careers and their domestic responsibilities. The notion that women are beholden to the household arguably leads to sex discrimination, because women are more competent with household duties than men.

Mansfield claims that men chafe when working at the behest of women. Irrespective of a woman’s merit and qualifications, Mansfield claims that women lack the innate authoritative disposition than men posses, such as a deep voice. As a result, women must artificially act authoritative, and this pseudo assertiveness evokes men to seethe. In a neoclassical sense, Gary Becker argues that sex discrimination accrues from a societal structure that accepts male hegemony. Evidently, male workers view a women’s authority as pseudo because history reveals that women aren’t inherently imperious.

One may argue that Mansfield’s rejoinders disparaged the female’s plight and role in society. I find it ironic that the sentiment of relegation Wolf felt is the same sentiment that eventually enjoined women to court inclusive equality.

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Michael M

The feminist movement was critical in developing the ideas women’s rights and female equality. However, Harvey Mansfield, a Harvard professor of government, seems to think that women’s rights were achieved only at the expense of men’s egos. In response, Mansfield has published his book, Manliness, in an effort to garner support for the man’s cause. In a C-Span After Words interview, Mansfield explains and defends his views on gender relations with feminist host, Naomi Wolf.

The most prevalent and interesting point of this interview is that it highlights the friction between genders. This point is aptly explained by political economist theory. According to Mansfield, men are left without a social or household identity in the wake of the feminist movement and the departure of women from the home. While not openly advocating a return to pre-1960s America, he believes that in order for men to be “manly,” there must be some place or occupation exclusively for men. This is similar to a Marxist view of men keeping women in their place or excluding them from an activity. It is also a defense mechanism on the part of men in reaction to diminishing gender differences. The idea of manliness is way to cope with these changes by stroking the male ego. 10

The interviewer Naomi Wolf seems to catch Mansfield on several occasions as he contradicts himself. Revealing his misogyny, he has the audacity to claim that men are inherently more authoritative and thus, command more respect. While this may, unfortunately, be true in some workplaces, it is not backed by recent studies. This interview seemed to be more of an attempt to justify male superiority and it illustrates the modern political economist concept of conflict between sexes where men strive to keep women in their proper place. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx