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| marsh_suburban_men_and_masculine_domesticity [2026/03/13 15:52] – [Changes in Masculinity] smilton | marsh_suburban_men_and_masculine_domesticity [2026/03/13 17:41] (current) – [Changes in Masculinity] nrutkows |
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| With the change in masculinity, it can be seen through the domesticity of the middle-class men going from artisans to factory workers or managerial positions. The more adventurous or physical the man was the more masculine he presented. The reading discusses how the increase of managerial work or corporate work had created a new anxiety for the middle-class men. (Sage Milton) | With the change in masculinity, it can be seen through the domesticity of the middle-class men going from artisans to factory workers or managerial positions. The more adventurous or physical the man was the more masculine he presented. The reading discusses how the increase of managerial work or corporate work had created a new anxiety for the middle-class men. (Sage Milton) |
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| | The 20th century saw in increase in masculine domesticity, especially among middle class men who found themselves with more time to spend with their families as they had in previous eras. The idea of masculine domesticity began to be directly linked to manliness, allowing men to see involvement in their children’s lives as an expression of such manhood as well as a method to ensure that their sons would learn to be masculine. In particular, the newfound closeness between fathers and sons was seen as a way to safeguard young boys against “evil ways,” providing them instead with a healthy masculine role model and proper outlets to express things like aggressiveness. (Noah Rutkowski) |
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| ===== Suburban Middle Class Masculinity ===== | ===== Suburban Middle Class Masculinity ===== |
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| Many of the ideals of masculine domesticity were framed specifically within the suburban context. Cities were seen as a possibly corrupting influence, encouraging men to go out with their male friends instead of spending time in the home. The suburbs, on the other hand, isolated the family from others to their own shared space. The single family home created a refuge for the family where inter-gender and inter-generational activities could be conducted. Marsh points out that architecture itself even changed during these temporal and geographic shifts. Rather than previous gendered places in the home, such as separate parlors and sitting rooms, common spaces were now intended for use by men and women, promoting family togetherness. Visual decorations often served to distinguish children's spaces, but even this was an indication that women's and children's spaces were no longer considered the same. (Cameron Spivy) | Many of the ideals of masculine domesticity were framed specifically within the suburban context. Cities were seen as a possibly corrupting influence, encouraging men to go out with their male friends instead of spending time in the home. The suburbs, on the other hand, isolated the family from others to their own shared space. The single family home created a refuge for the family where inter-gender and inter-generational activities could be conducted. Marsh points out that architecture itself even changed during these temporal and geographic shifts. Rather than previous gendered places in the home, such as separate parlors and sitting rooms, common spaces were now intended for use by men and women, promoting family togetherness. Visual decorations often served to distinguish children's spaces, but even this was an indication that women's and children's spaces were no longer considered the same. (Cameron Spivy) |
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| | In the writings surrounding the masculine domesticity, Marsh highlighted that the writings were not about childcare or how to be a husband, instead it was concerned about the social mobility and economic mobility of the middle class in suburban areas. Focusing on how to be this ideal masculine man in the middle class with self control for alcohol, gambling, sexual interactions, and economic decisions. These were used to show how the suburban middle class was more masculine than the urban middle class who had a more city version of masculinity. (sage milton) |
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| ===== Progressive Elements? ===== | ===== Progressive Elements? ===== |
