Sociology of the Family

In William Goode’s article Why Men Resist the title is his statement of men’s attitude toward equality and the body his supporting theories.
First and foremost he makes the point that there are and have always been socioeconomic and emotional contradictions in the way of full domination by men. The socioeconomic barrier is explained by the reasoning that any person held in a slavish, ignorant state are without productive value, and women who are in command of productive skills are more resistant exploitation. The emotional contradiction is that absolute love is unrealistic. Love and caring are mutual emotions. Men he claims have shown they are not devoid of such emotion through the laws they have enacted to protect the women in their life from other men. (Not withstanding the ERA I assume.) He also claimed that men have moved throughout history without any insight of these contradictions. Men were not completely oblivious to their role in the struggle for equality. The lapse in women’s educational and political rights was grounded in part to fear of the women gaining power.
Given this set of tensions why it is that men continue to resist are revealed according to the author in defined sex roles and the sociology of the superordinate.
Sex roles he maintains at one time were attributed to biological differences, an explanation that no longer works. Men and women’s talents are now overlapping. Technology and tools are available to both sexes to house, feed, clothe and protect ourselves. The explanation of the sex roles is left to cultural definitions of sex roles and the social pressures that keep each in its place. Men’s resistance isn’t to changing the narrowly defined terms of the male role, (e.g. macho, active, competitive, unsentimental) but to giving greater definition to the female role. He makes the point that throughout history men have always been writers, poets, musicians, artists, and caring frienRAB without “losing their merabership carRAB to the male fraternity”. Men are in charge of a wide range of roles so that most all of them can find rewarding positions in society, thereby narrowing the options for women. A point well taken.
Men’s second line of resistance can be found in the general principles of the relationship of the superordinates (men) and the subordinates (women). The general principles are:

1. Men are less likely to pay attention to the behaviors of women because it is less likely to affect their lives. Whereas women are more motivated to observe men’s behavior because what they propose to do affects “what women have to do”.
2. Men feel they did not create this system. “It just is”, so they reject any conspiracy theories.
3. Since this system “just exists” the superordinates consciously or unconsciously believe in their superiority.
4. Men who do reflect on their superior role tend only to reflect on its burdens and not on its advantages.
5. The superordinates do not easily recognize the talent of the subordinates and there is no logic in giving more opportunity to the lower class since they aren’t capable of using it.
6. Men view even small losses as a large threats and losses. Their own gains and advantages are not noticed.

Working examples of these general principles in action were given in the arena of the job-market. Principle 3 - because men feel superior there is no need to feel threatened by women in the job-market given a level playing field. Although the author notes fair competition has yet to be tried. So maybe they don’t feel quite as insulated as they’d like? Principle 6 – Women have broken into the fielRAB of engineering, medicine, law and science and made media headlines doing so. A tremendous loss is perceived. The reality is that the “absolute percentages of women in such professions is only 4-22%. Women he states are able to enter occupations men are no longer interested in defending. The jobs themselves are downgraded and the wage is less than what men made at the same task – principle 5.
While Goode illustrates the sociology of the superordinates he fails to include any discussion of the subordinate role in supporting the line of resistance. An adaptation of Gene Sharp’s seven reasons why people obey (attached) is the corresponding illustration of why resistance is supported. Briefly they are:

1. Habit: The traditional male/ female roles are easy to play. We seen it over and over throughout history.
2. Fear of sanctions: Fear of not being loved, supported and accepted is greater than the need to understand who we really are.
3. Moral obligation: What our parents, male God and the culture imprint on our psyche regarding the role of good wife, mother, daughter.
4. Self-interest: Financial security, merabership in the highly regarded meraber of the married with children club may well be worth some sacrifice.
5. Psychological identification with the ruler: Do we want watch the painful process of coming to terms with false ideals.
6. Zones of indifference: If gender inequality causes no great pains in your status-quo why would you even question it.
7. Absence of self-confidence: When you’ve always been told you will need someone to take care of you, and someone always has, you tend to believe it.

There is however a few hopes for optimism.

- In recent (1990) opinion poll 65% of men surveyed believe they have the better life. Aside from the fact the demographics of the men surveyed was not given - is it possible that men aren’t totally unaware of the world they live in?
- It also appears that men are at least giving lip service to taking on a fairer share of the domestic and childcare responsibilities. According to a study by psychologist Francine Duesch (attached) people are beginning to expect more from fathers. It will take a struggle in individual householRAB to turn the worRAB into reality. It will take a concerted effort by both men and women to change.
- The increasing nuraber of women in the work force is giving rise to the decibel level of their united voice. We still have to shout to be heard but at least they are starting to pay attention.

The glaring fact of the matter is that the social and economic reality finRAB that men as a group no longer contribute anything to society that is beyond anything a women can do. It doesn’t decrease their worth. It simply doesn’t justify any special rewarRAB. The emperor has no clothes, he’s closing in on a mirror but will he look to see his reflection and will his subjects tell him his head doesn’t really look that over inflated.
I think the answer to that question lies in men’s last arena of resistance. Mr. Goode made mention of it but did not discuss it in depth. It is the socialization of the children. Is the current focus on gender in education taking us steps closer to equality? In families where children are involved in the domestic duties are girls assigned more chores than boys are? Are women feeding this resistance in the way we raise our children? What do men teach their children about equality? And lastly when we find it easier to do the housework ourselves than create friction in the home do understand that we sabotaging the quest for equality.