How Culture Effects Masculinity

In sociology we questioned society's ethics indicating gender roles and how this effects national tragedies.  Particularly how masculinity is associated with power, violence, and dominance, we were able to decipher the types of tragedies instigated by caucasian middle class males who were bullied and emasculated.

This unit is prevalently seen in the Boston phenomenon that occurred recently this week. Although the suspects are not identified to be caucasian, they nonetheless felt like pariahs in the American culture and were socially disconnected from American society. We often ask ourselves who would do such a thing or how deranged and neurotic individuals must be to carry out these tragedies. But perhaps sociology is much more credible than we think. Because the suspects felt disconnected from American culture, and were minorities, they perhaps felt devalued in American society. By feeling inferior, the suspects could have felt that they're voices as becoming citizens were unheard and irrelevant: thus as men in American culture they were not powerful, nor dominant enough, to be recognized. Ultimately resulting in showing their masculinity and dominance through violence in the Boston Bombing.

What I find to be the most interesting is how Boston's tragedy parallels the numerous Anarchist bombings in the 1920s (i.e Wall Street bombing 1920, Anarchist Bombings 1919). How the Sacco and Vanzetti court case eagerly criminalized and discriminated against Italians and new immigrants entering the country in the '20s parallels our national discrimination against muslims and our eagerness to pin the Boston Bombing on Muslim Terrorists due to the Iraq War.

Several decades later,  most Americans are still nationalistic and wrapped up in caucasian dominance. Although globalization is increasing and multiculturalism is taught throughout schools in the nation, Americans cannot seem to shake the elements of discrimination in our society. More importantly, Americans need to realize the damaging effects of preaching multiculturalism, yet attaining a sense of discrimination, may effect becoming citizens and the future of the country.