The message aimed at boys is to suggest that the only way to be a “real man” is to be a bully.

[kpete]

Dog Whistling the Rise of the Feminine

...........

....it’s also a way of denigrating men who demonstrate the capacity for compassion, empathy, thoughtfulness and cooperation. In other words, men who display charactaristics we normally associate with women. That’s because in a patriarchal culture, those qualities represent weakness.

At a time when the right wing in this country is consumed with a backlash against the inevitable demise of white male heterosexual dominance, Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign might have failed because he’s not “manly” enough - even if he weren’t showing himself to be incredibly gaffe-prone.

But this call to “manliness” from our leaders hasn’t just come from the right. While not as harsh or widespread as the conservative version, there have been many suggestions that President Obama needs to “man up” or take off his tutu and put on his boxing gloves. Calling Obama “feminized” is the heart of Maureen Dowd’s critique of this President.

All of this is a kind of sexist dog whistle. Men and women who call themselves feminists need to recognize it for what it is and call it out. We should be very clear that the presidency is no place for bullies. And rather than signifying weakness, traits like compassion, thoughtfulness and cooperation are exactly the kind of thing we’re looking for in a leader. That’s true whether the next occupant of the White House is a man or a woman.





MORE:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_09/dog_whistling_the_rise_of_the057382.php

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. Nonsense. First, Nancy LeTourneau is not an expert at what it means to be a man,

nor is she privvy to the messages boys get, none of which are to be a bully.

Second, the "he should take a stand" criticism of Obama is frequently on-target and is consistent with expecting thoughtfulness etc. from him.

Masculinity; Ms LeTourneau doesn't know what it is, but she's pretty sure it's a bad thing.

I think that Bernie embodies everything that a man should be. "You heard me right - 'socialist'. Bring it, fuckers."