maleness in America is not absolutely defined; it has

to be kept and reearned every day

Margaret Mead

INTRODUCTION

THE CASE

FOR STUDYING

MEN AND MASCULINITY

"The American Republic stands before the world as the supreme expres-

sion of masculine force," proclaimed the Illinois Association Opposed to

Women's Suffrage in 1910. According to every empirical test, American

men had affirmed their commitment to progress by subduing nature, then

successfully capitalizing on nature's resources. The free, competitive

economic system had advanced the human race in all aspects further and

faster than ever in recorded history. The growth of commerce, transporta-

tion, and agriculture was impressive. "All these are purely masculine

enterprises~ They require exclusively masculine brains as well as brawn."

Of course the womenfolk were around too. In fact, "They have an influ-

ence over the men of their own nation such as the women of no other

country possess." In 1910, few men seemed to doubt this in spite of the

fact that one-fourth of the states denied women the right of property