There are many institutions that support gender difference. However, there are institutions that promote gender order such as hospitals and schools. In hospitals the men are supposed to be the doctors with PhDs and the women are supposed to be the nurses, the caregivers, not the healers. Institutions are implementing characteristics and expectations towards men and women. In the workplace, gender difference has always been present. There are plenty of women who have the same jobs as men but are underpaid. In “Man Enough” they understood this very present issue and spoke about it to understand it to its core. These men spoke about gender inequality to make others understand it better and to, hopefully, make it stop.
In his conclusion, Kimmel used the term “masculinities” instead of the singular term “masculinity”. He used this term implying that there not a specific definition that qualifies a man. Gender is not what you are but what you do and say. Kimmel used this term to broaden the idea of a man and to help see stoicism as a simple trait, rather than a must-have. In the fourth episode of “Man Enough”, this quote summarizes the hope that the men at the table shared when their talk was coming to an end. Such a simple talk between friends that led to a deep mutual understanding of this issue is truly amazing and can only bring all good men around the world hope.
Lovers and Fighters | Section 22 