Well that’s what I’m wondering. I was just curious because we’re all women yet we’re aware that men can be sensitive when they hear us reference “men” sometimes. I wondered if it was upsetting because most don’t understand the context in which we mean “men”. I want to know if the context matters.
I don’t really want to get into this, but society has 100% defined what men “should be”outside of the scientific definition. I mean where do you think gender roles come from? Otherwise the distinction wouldn’t matter. Personal definitions of men can differ from what society thinks. Personal definition is exactly what I’m not talking about. I’m saying that there is a very distinct generalization about men that exists and we collectively call it “Men TM” to specifically talk about that.
I get what you mean by “Men™” as shorthand for common stereotypes, but society isn’t a single unified voice. Different communities, cultures, and generations all have conflicting or shifting ideas about what men “should be.” There’s no single, fixed definition that society universally agrees on. Society is not a monolith. gender roles exist, but they’re diverse, often contradictory, and constantly evolving. That’s why saying “society has defined men” oversimplifies a much messier reality.
So you think the majority of men (at least in Missouri) are misogynistic, capitalistic, and white? Even if that’s true in your experience, that still doesn’t define men as a whole, especially beyond your region or social circle. How do you account for the diversity of men who don’t fit that description?
As far as what I think about generalizing a group or a single defining characteristic of men? No, I can’t really find one. No, not really. Men are too diverse, some are homeless, some are rich; some do drugs, some don’t; some vote red, some blue, some not at all; some drive gas cars, some electric, some bike; some are nerds, some hate technology, others read books, some can’t read at all. Some love music, some are gay, some aren’t.
You’re onto something here. This is why we cannot generalize ANY group of people regardless of sample size or geopolitical factors. Everyone must be addressed as individuals and observed population-level behaviors cannot be trusted and should be thrown out because they cannot account for every single person.