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The manly man's man
Boston Globe ^ | March 12, 2006 | Christopher Shea

Posted on 03/12/2006 11:16:57 AM PST by Lorianne

Harvey Mansfield, conservative political theorist and academic provocateur, argues that women--and society--need to come to terms with 'manliness' ___ WHO IS NOT JUST a man, but a manly man? And who today can even say the words ''manly man" without smirking?

These questions are at the heart of ''Manliness" (Yale), the new book by Harvard government professor Harvey C. Mansfield, who has long shouldered a reputation as the campus's most outspoken conservative.

In answer to the first question, Mansfield nominates, among others, the marshal played by Gary Cooper in ''High Noon." When the town's sniveling semi-men slink away from the task, Cooper boldly goes out to fight the thugs arriving in his town. As for the second question-well it just shows how wanly gender neutral our society has become: Manly men scare us.

Liberals at Harvard may balk at the suggestion that Mansfield is an academic Gary Cooper. But while some of his conservative colleagues complain privately about affirmative action or grade inflation or women's studies, Mansfield has unfailingly stepped forward with his rhetorical Remington blazing away. Most recently, he stood by president Lawrence H. Summers, whom Mansfield says he considered a manly man-at least until Summers's every third sentence became an apology.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bookreview; males; manhood; manliness; men
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1 posted on 03/12/2006 11:16:59 AM PST by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne
''I think you have to say it is a cry of desperation," says Robin Lakoff, a professor of linguistics at Berkeley. ''Here is guy who has seen his male privilege vanish as society became more equal. He wants to turn the clock back."

Facing down the bad guys is hardly what I would categorize as "male privilege" but then an expert on "framing" such as Lakoff would know all about deliberate mischaracterization in order to cling to an outmoded feminist paradigm.

2 posted on 03/12/2006 11:28:45 AM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Lorianne
Howard Hawks hated the idea in High Noon of the lawman going around asking for help so he made in response to it Rio Bravo...one the greatest westerns. In it John Wayne never asked for help although he did get it in limited ways from the other characters.


3 posted on 03/12/2006 11:33:17 AM PST by xp38
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To: Billthedrill

The character of Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" is, for me, the epitome of how a man should be. It reminded me so much of my father that it was uncanny.


4 posted on 03/12/2006 11:57:50 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: xp38

Greetings to all the Liberals and Feminists who are archiving my posts. Bezerkley that bastion of Conservative thought from a FemNag of all persons. I am shocked shocked I tell you. Well not really. That Masuclinity is under attack is like saying its dark at night. The Gender Equity Movement is trying as hard as it can to erase Gender all together. This is openly what Feminists stated was their goal.

They are upset that Men will not cooperate. Too bad so sad. Well from one Male they can kiss my hairy Arse. I am sick of the assult on my gender by the FemNags and their allies in the Media. Guess what Nags Men like Me are a by product of 3 decades of hatred towards Males. And the overwhelming silence of Conservative and Moderate Females.

Where were the Women's Groups decrying the Misandry and hatred of Men? Never existed. Where were the Women's Groups demanding fair Treatment for Fathers in Divorce and Access to their children? Also never existed. Where were the Women who demanded something be done about the appalling rate of suicide amongst Males? Never happened.

FemBots maintain it is about privledge and "The Patriarchy", wrong it is about survival. There has been a War of Attrition being waged against Men and now Boys. We are fighting back. Women who have Sons are finally speaking out. Gee it only took 3 Decades for it to happen. Men are refusing to Marry. The Hostile Family Court system.

We are drugging 10% of the boys in our schools. We have a record number of Boys on anti-depressants. There is a correlation between School shootings and SRRIs. One of the Columbine shooters was on anti-depressants. Conservative Women don't be silent speak up for us. Our voices are ignored by the Media, Politicians and the Courts.

Want Grandchildren? Want happily married daughters then damit speak up for your Men!!!


5 posted on 03/12/2006 11:59:10 AM PST by Khankrumthebulgar
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To: Lorianne
I find all the bitching about anti-male bias to be unmanly.
6 posted on 03/12/2006 12:02:39 PM PST by Physicist
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To: Lorianne; Victoria Delsoul
Manly man . . .

LOL.

7 posted on 03/12/2006 12:13:56 PM PST by Alberta's Child
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To: Lorianne
He cites the Berkeley linguist Lakoff, for example, for her work documenting how women frame requests in an apologetic, super-polite way.

.."We woman use super polite frames" says Georgie..rhymes with...

8 posted on 03/12/2006 12:21:08 PM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("fake but accurate": NY Times)
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To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan

He may have been referring to George's wife, Robin Lakoff, who is also a linguist.


9 posted on 03/12/2006 12:37:33 PM PST by RightWingAtheist (Creationism Is Not Conservative!)
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To: Lorianne; Slip18; NYC GOP Chick; hellinahandcart; sweetliberty; CARepubGal; LisaMalia; Ganymede; ...

Women who love manly men. Let me know if you want on or off the Retro Sexual ping list.

10 posted on 03/12/2006 12:47:02 PM PST by jellybean (George Allen 2008)
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To: Lorianne
Harvey Mansfield, conservative political theorist and academic provocateur, argues that women--and society--need to come to terms with 'manliness' ___ WHO IS NOT JUST a man, but a manly man?M/i>

Here's a good set of guidelines.


11 posted on 03/12/2006 12:55:13 PM PST by JRios1968 (A DUmmie troll's motto: "Non cogito, ergo zot")
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To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan

I thought Lakoff was a beard. Thanks for looking that up.


12 posted on 03/12/2006 1:16:48 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Lorianne
Mansfield nominates, among others, the marshal played by Gary Cooper in ''High Noon." When the town's sniveling semi-men slink away from the task, Cooper boldly goes out to fight the thugs arriving in his town. As for the second question-well it just shows how wanly gender neutral our society has become: Manly men scare us.

"Don't shove me Harv. I'm tired of being shoved".

"You're a good-looking boy: you've big, broad shoulders. But he's a man. And it takes more than big, broad shoulders to make a man".

"Don't try to be a hero! You don't have to be a hero, not for me"!

"Stay at the hotel until it's over".

"No, I won't be here when it's over. You're asking me to wait an hour to find out if I'm going to be a wife or a widow. I say it's too long to wait! I won't do it"!

"Amy"!

"I mean it! If you won't go with me now, I'll be on that train when it leaves here".

"manly men scare us"

13 posted on 03/12/2006 1:30:49 PM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("fake but accurate": NY Times)
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To: RightWingAtheist
He may have been referring to George's wife, Robin Lakoff.

Hmmm.....in this case a distinction without a difference.

14 posted on 03/12/2006 1:33:41 PM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("fake but accurate": NY Times)
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To: Billthedrill
I thought Lakoff was a beard. Thanks for looking that up.

You're welcome.

15 posted on 03/12/2006 1:35:02 PM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("fake but accurate": NY Times)
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To: Lorianne
?Quien Es Mas Macho?


16 posted on 03/12/2006 2:14:34 PM PST by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan

Great post!


17 posted on 03/12/2006 2:16:21 PM PST by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
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To: Khankrumthebulgar
Greetings to all the Liberals and Feminists who are archiving my posts.

LOL. Well, we should all aspire to that.

18 posted on 03/12/2006 2:19:45 PM PST by Zack Nguyen
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To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan

It's go time. Mandelbaum, Mandelbaum, Mandelbaum

19 posted on 03/12/2006 2:20:42 PM PST by Tribune7
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To: Physicist
I find all the bitching about anti-male bias to be unmanly.

Yep. I think the "gender-neutral" stuff is more worthy of attack. I'll never forget the time I rebuked a woman college administrator in the style of a mild flamewar here on FR, yet that drove her to tears. Women are easily disturbed when treated just like men, especially the more traditionally feminine. I worry all the new "GI Jane" stereotypes will only lead to more physical abuse of women because the thugs will somehow think they can take a punch like Trinity in the Matrix.

20 posted on 03/12/2006 3:29:56 PM PST by Dumb_Ox (http://kevinjjones.blogspot.com)
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