Kimmel 1-3

In his introductory chapters in GUYLAND, Michael Kimmel describes what he considers a new demographic of boys-becoming-men, of the ages 16-26. Although Guyland may sound like a broad spectrum, he is actually specifically referring to white, middle-class, college applicants, students and graduates. Why this specific group should be considered to dominate 'guyland' is at first a little narrow sighted seeming, however it he defines it as the thing that is defining of the ones who participate or actively reject.

Guyland, he describes, is a culture that has been mainly formed on new ideas of manhood and prolonged adolescence. It is the confusion of really beginning manhood or post-college life, that is so terribly bent around the 'guy code' that has been created it does not want to break it's own rules, even if it would better them. These rules, which are have been subconsciously constructed are based on this cultures desire to preserve their masculinity. These rules exhibit extreme attitudes about man-to-man loyalty, homophobia, no-pain, and the all defining 'bros before hos' loyalty. All in all, Kimmel is mainly exhibiting how these ideas boys are outlining their lives with as well as a faltering economy are truely creating an entirely new world apart from what their parents experienced.

I find it hard to line up 'guys' as I know them to these ideas- I have never been to a university and neither have any of the boys close to me. What I do see however, is this resistance to adulthood. I see 'boys' who are almost 30, working at the same low wage job as me. What I see from my generation is a terrifying view of commitment into both fields of relationships and careers, which perhaps stems from divorced parents. We don't want to fuck it up like they did, part of the reason why some of us are waiting for the ideal thing to fall in our laps. And the words 'fall in our laps' is the most dangerous- it tells of this generations sense of being privileged and special, like Kimmel notes. What I see are boys who are still dying to explore and define themselves in the world, which for some reason might be taking longer than it did a couple decades ago.

I think an emotional attatchment to a career, or as Kimmel says a career that establishes a sense of importance and masculinity, is highly was is lacking for a lot of boys in this world. I have reason to believe the decline in jobs that are more akin to materiality, or trade jobs, has something to do with a lack of desire to enter into a career for boys. The purpose of money itself has also changed, as Guyland has been transformed largely into consumer culture. Perhaps the biggest question remains for most boys, which is what are they working towards?