The Role Of Masculinity In Things Fall Apart And Modern American Society

Despite the vast cultural differences between the Igbo tribe presented in “Things Fall Apart” and modern American society and the massive strides made in gender equality in the past few decades, the definition of masculinity in both societies has remained remarkably similar. Masculinity in both modern America and the Igbo tribe circa 1930 is associated with aggression, dominance, displays of physical and mental resilience, a resistance to emotion, and the ability to provide for one's family - although the extent to which these characteristics are displayed has changed over the decades, the basic standards remain intact. The displays of masculinity have evolved into something less overtly violent over the interceding decades, but the fundamental
In modern American society, even with the revolution of women in the workforce that swept through America as early as the 1940s, women earning more than their husbands is viewed as marriage poison- despite the fact that 38% of American women do just that. Although women and men are now roughly on the same footing in the workforce, there are countless discussions devoted to whether it is acceptable for a wife to earn more than her husband, and it is clear that providing for your family is still viewed as a key characteristic of masculinity. Another remnant of archaic definitions of masculinity lingers in the domestic lives of the average American- although the amount of american men doing housework on a day to day basis has skyrocketed in recent years, it is still lower than women’s rate by 30%, and the conversation still rages on about whether even this is
Just as in the Igbo tribe, modern men are discouraged from displaying too much emotion for fear of looking weak. Although this presumably does not extend to assisting in the murder of someone you call a son, this idea is still very much present in today's society- and the jury seems to be out on whether this is a positive or negative attribute. Psychology Today runs articles describing the “male indoctrination” and encourages men to share their feelings, while Men’s Today’s headlines declare that emotions simply aren’t necessary. But one thing is certain: men are discouraged from displaying emotions from a young age and this training lasts for their entire lives, just as is seen in the Igbo society. All of the traits of masculinity are ultimately rooted in one thing- fear of weakness. Everything Okonkwo does is based in fear of weakness, a fear “deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw”. This fear of weakness is seen in modern American society as well, and is demonstrated by nearly every aspect of traditional masculinity, from avoidance of emotion to the innate need to be the primary provider for their family to the constant facade of strength displayed. In essence, American and Igbo masculinity are