A N T R O P O S 2 0 0 0+
Repairing the breach
TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF MAN IN THE MALE
PROBLEM: The marginalization and emasculation of the male in Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean and western society.
OBSERVATION:
There has been
(1) A marked decrease in educational achievement and social development among the male.
(2) A marked decrease in stable marriages and a great increase in divorces and single parent homes. Because of these there has been a major paradigm shift that has redefined what is today a socially acceptable family structure.
(3) Significant increases in domestic violence, incest, rape and related crime by male perpetrators.
(4) A considerable increase in the crime rate - far greater than the increase in population growth.
(5) A considerable increase in homosexuality – both male and female.
(6) Considerable increases in drug addition and related crime.
ANALYSIS:
The problems that the Trinbagonian male faces are not peculiar to him. Similar states of affairs exist in other West Indian Islands and among the African-American males of the USA giving the same results. The question is then, "What are the circumstances common to the islands of the West Indies and certain sections of the USA?" To begin to understand the causal factors underlying the present social problems, we need to look at the past. We are products of our past. It was an occurrence yesterday, which determined where we are today.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Modern West Indian society evolved from the Pre-slavery colonial period, through Slavery, the Post-slavery and indentureship period and finally the Post-colonial period. The system of slavery had peculiar effects on family structure in that it was so altered as to accommodate the needs of the slave masters. Male and female were put together, at the whims and fancies of the master, for the sole purpose of breeding stock. The worst thing about slavery was not bondage. It was the destruction of the family (T.D. Jakes - Man Power 3). When you destroy the family you destroy a people. The Post-slavery family was therefore very weak as roles were forced to be redefined. It became pseudo-nuclear in structure. The links of the extended family, the clan and the tribe had been destroyed. The closeness, the warmth, the love, the comfort and the security of the family was no longer known. For obvious reasons the male icon coming out of the slave experience would have been very weak, the male being totally emasculated by the efforts of the masters to re-socialise him into subservience. It is not difficult to understand why manliness was forcibly removed as the male was re-socialised, obviously a subservient slave is easier to control than a man of strong character, for in manliness is strength. The female however came out of the slave experience much stronger and more assertive as she had to take up the responsibility of raising the family in the absence of the male. The single parent family, as a socially acceptable unit, was born. This is not to say that single parent households were not known but that the modern paradigm had its genesis here. Slavery and the post-colonial experience took away the male’s manhood and re-socialised him to be a cowardly, irresponsible gigolo serving only one purpose. His penis was all he had left. His entire manhood rested on this fact. This was manifested in an artificial self-esteem or machoism in the absence of strong character. This weak male image has been perpetuated up to the present. This, the absence of strong character in the male, is the main reason for the deterioration of the family. Women of Seychelles lament lack of good men: (Newsday Wednesday 16th December 1998 page 11)
Added to the dilemma of the weak and insecure male, western society began to place greater emphasis on the development of the female. Special programmes and funding have been developed for women in a ‘man’s world’, following the patterns set in the metropolitan countries. Now in societies where the female is treated as second class, these programmes are essential. But in the West Indian society, which was predominantly made up of ex-slaves, the family had already become matriarchal in structure and the female an icon of assertiveness. So that in a few short years of the feminist lobby, the average female in the West Indies has become more educated than the equivalent male. One only has to look at the gender of the graduates of the institutes of tertiary education. In 1998 approximately three-quarters of the 4000 graduates of the University of the West Indies were women. U.W.I. Chancellor Sir Shridath Ramphal queried: Where have all the men gone? (Daily Express Thursday 19th November 1998, page 37). In other institutes the margin is even greater. The gap is broadening constantly, the male becoming more and more marginalised. Unfortunately, there are no programmes geared towards male development as it is assumed that males dominate. A very wrong premise! This error is compounded by the fact that as society defines a MAN as an adult male, maturity is based on age rather than character. We now have a generation of immature seed planters rather than men. The disparity between the sexes is increasing. What then have been the results?
(1) The African male has been the most pronounced underachiever, belonging to that section of the community, which had been directly influenced by slavery. The norms of the colonial society taught him that he was black and inferior. Parents preferred their fairer skinned children. The darker skinned ones were vilified. The colour of one’s skin determined job and social opportunities. Today we still have more than just traces of that type of thinking. In addition, because of the absence of strong parental guidance there is weak or no re-enforcement of the positive values which enhance self-esteem. The ‘block’ (peers), as an extension of the broader society, is now responsible for wielding influence and re-enforcement of its value system upon the young male. So that the block, now with it’s urban and rural stereotypes of violence, laziness, drugs, sex and crime, has now become a primary institution responsible for the reinforcement of values in the young male.
(2) The East Indian male was not as unfortunate as the African. His historical experience of indentureship allowed him to keep his traditional family structure and values alive in the western world. Therefore extended family bonds and tribal values are far stronger and more meaningful among the East Indian community than among the African.Yet domestic violence (wife beating) and incest seem far more common among the East Indian than any other ethnic group. This stems from the fact that in most eastern cultures, the woman is seen as the possession of her husband. In these cultures, she is socialised into subservience and being taught to keep the family together at all costs, she has tended to accept domestic violence as part of her fare in life. Modern western culture however, has been instrumental in changing her values. Today the East Indian woman is becoming far more assertive than she has been traditionally.
(3) Failed marriages are today the norm. Marital problems deteriorate into domestic violence and murder. Marriages fail for a number of reasons. For example when both parties have different expectations in the relationship, when either/each party do not understand or agree on their roles in the relationship, when there is a lack of integrity, when there is intolerance and/or when there is a lack of communication. These circumstances usually lead to violence and separations.
One major factor influencing these circumstances is that either or both of the two parties grew up with an absence of (strong) role models, particularly the male role model. There are three main conditions, which determine whether a marriage will or will not work.
(i) Either or both grew up without a father figure or a bad one.
(ii) Either or both faced a traumatic break-up of the family during the formative years.
(iii) Both grew up with strong (positive) father figures.
Now the average male may grow up in a single parent home with an absence of any close father figure, no model that is strong enough to give him an effective pattern to follow. When he is considered old enough he begins to establish relationships. Not having had a role model to pattern after, how can he know how to be a husband or father? On the other hand, the average female may grow up in a single parent home with an absence of any close father figure. She will not be able to determine what she should look for in a husband. Worst, she will not have respect for his role in the home nor will she understand his expectations. People who come from these dysfunctional backgrounds should not just get married but should seek professional counselling first. It is a recipe for disaster. Quite obviously the third condition is the ideal one as both persons would have their roles clearly defined in the relationship. However an increasing majority of people are growing up in conditions (I) and (ii) so that this curse which was inherited from the period of slavery has become self-perpetuating.
Another
major factor influencing the stability of marriages, is the influence of the
feminist lobby. This Euro-centric movement in seeking to redefine the role of
women in family and society, has perpetuated matriarchy under the guise of
equality of the sexes. It has been instrumental in destroying the concept of
male headship in the church and family. So that added to the attack on the male
image historically through slavery, the trauma caused by the redefinition of
roles in the family through the influence of the feminist lobby has given rise
to tremendous conflict between the sexes and a breakdown of the family
structure. This conflict has led to emotional hurts, hopelessness and an
inability to cope with problematic relationships, and given rise to the type of
explosive anger that has become characteristic of the male of the western
society. This anger has manifested itself in increasing domestic violence,
forcing society to pass more and harsher laws to curb the increasing incidence.
Sooner or later society will find that these laws will not solve the problem,
as they do not address the causal factors.
(4) Crime is out of control today because of obvious weaknesses in the sense of values that have been implanted and re-enforced by parents and peers. A person enters a life of crime because of weakness of character, an absence of moral strength, stemming from weak parenting. As a result they are led away by diverse lusts being easily influenced to do wrong due to confused values. Such a person simply cannot say no. The results have been obvious and disastrous. There are other factors, which have also influenced the crime rate. The general impotence of the society, through its judicial system, to effectively use punishment as a deterrent for crime is one factor. The justice system today has been crippled by the efforts of dishonest lawyers whose only interest is fame and/or money. The use of "Human Rights" arguments to frustrate the judicial system has sent a very clear message to the criminals that "crime does pay". Today it is generally accepted that the chances of being punished for wrongdoing are very slim.
(5) Homosexuality is on the increase. There is a lobby for acceptability as an "alternative lifestyle". Contrary to popular belief, homosexuality is not genetic but social in nature. It is acquired by the process of socialisation and has to do with the way relationships are defined at childhood. It is socially dysfunctional in that it goes contrary to the laws of nature and by its very nature inhibits procreation. When one looks at the social imbalances caused by the absence of strong positive male role models in the family, what can one expect?
(6) Drug Addiction is common. It has become normal to see vagrants who are drug addicts begging or "hustling" for money to purchase cocaine. Many have graduated from cigarettes to marijuana and from marijuana to cocaine. Addiction usually stems from the development of habits, which were adopted for satiation of the flesh. It is a desire or craving which leaves the person increasingly unhappy and uncomfortable if not satisfied.
Addiction stems from the absence of two qualities from the character matrix, sound judgement and a strong will. An absence of these qualities means there is insufficient self-control to make the right decision when confronted by peer or any other pressure.
MAN
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When man is used to describe the male, it always indicates a degree of maturity whether by age, character or behaviour. Man (as an adult male) is supposed to be a composite of three main elements, which reflect his physical, his social and his spiritual nature. These are masculinity, virility and manliness. The attainment of maturity is supposed to be the desired goal of every young male as it represents the power to make decisions independently. Modern society assumes that by the age of eighteen years, the person, if not mentally retarded, is cognitive of right and wrong, and is therefore equipped to make decisions based on sound judgement in accordance with acceptable norms and values of the society. One can now be held accountable for one’s actions. Society does not take character development, as a mark of maturity, into sufficient consideration. As a result, a large majority of undeveloped adult males take upon themselves the adult responsibilities of manhood, which they are in no way prepared for, with disastrous consequences.
MALE ROLE MODEL
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The root of all the problems of our society is the absence of positive role models, particularly male role models. Today more children are growing up in broken homes, single parent homes, homes with weak role models, even homes with no responsible adults. In the absence of effective patterns, the young people turn to their peers for pattern development. Seeing that their peers are usually in the same position as they are, having shared the same or similar experiences, then the association does not produce character development but instead reinforces dysfunctional behaviour. So that now we have a whole generation of immature adults. The general norms of this society also reinforce weakness as manliness. One only has to look at the advertisements in the various media to realise that. Advertisements for cigarettes and alcoholic beverages use sex to create subliminal links between sensuality and smoking and/or drinking by appealing to the carnal nature, thereby reinforcing negative values and setting stupid and weak standards for manliness. Therefore today the typical young man believes that to be a man, he must be able to smoke and "hold his liquor". He also believes that it is manly to spew "four lettered words" in conversation, particularly when angry or annoyed. Constantly he is being exposed to dysfunctional behaviour by the exemplars of his life. One learns best by example. It has become obvious that it is economically profitable for an elite group of people in this society to perpetuate this evil value system which reduces both male and female to dependency on alcohol and nicotine. A real man is not dependent on any external factor for gratification. Neither does a man of strong character allow himself to be influenced nor manipulated by any thing that appeals to his baser instincts. The easiest test of strength of character is the keeping of one’s word. How many men today can keep their word? If a man cannot keep his word, he does not have integrity. His character is flawed. Neither his wife, his children, his friends, his relatives nor acquaintances can trust or depend on him. One cannot turn to the society or depend on any section of it for the propagation and reinforcement of positive values because the society is just a reflection of the accepted norms and values of the collective whole. The only place that one can turn to for the redefining and reinforcement of an acceptable pattern is the church. The only person that one can turn to for the same is the one who created us, The Creator. It is the only way that man can be healed, can redefine his role and can understand his purpose.
In the book of Genesis 1:26-28 the purpose of man’s creation is explained. Here the model is defined. We were created in God’s image and likeness. The word ‘image’ infers a carbon copy; duplicate or model, ‘in his likeness’ means just like Him in character. see also Phil 2:5, Eph 5:1. So that God created man as a pattern or model of himself. Quite obviously if we stick to the pattern we would then be able to fulfil the purpose which God has created us for.
MANLINESS DEFINED
You cannot be a man without manliness, the characteristics that define what a man is. What then is manliness? Manliness is described as having a man’s virtues, courageous, frank, having integrity. It is a set of characteristics that describe emotional and spiritual maturity in the male. Having man’s virtues include being honest, independent, respectable, responsible, faithful, dependable, courageous, intelligent, honourable and having integrity. The Bible admonishes men to be manly, Paul writes in 1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (KJV)
FAMILY
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The purpose of the family is procreation so that there can be continuity of the species. The family is defined as a group of people who form one household. It is also described as parents and their children. It can therefore be seen as a social structure in which there are clearly defined roles designed for the express purpose stated above. The root of all the problems faced by this society and especially the male of this society is found in the absence of effective family structure. Current social and political thought affirms the acceptance of some new paradigms. It is today argued that there is nothing wrong with single parent homes. It is also argued that nothing is wrong with ‘alternate lifestyles’, cohabitation built upon homosexual patterns. So that the family, the basic structure responsible for the implementation and re-enforcement of positive values, for supplying the emotional, social and psychological support for the perpetuation of a positive value system is being destroyed. We need to rebuild the model that God established. We need to redefine what is an acceptable model. We need to go back to what has always worked and will always work, The Word of God.
THE CHURCH
The role of the Church is to re-enforce positive values in the individual, nurturing conformity to a set of values it accepts as godly. It is the support mechanism for the work of the family in moulding the character of the individual. As modern society has moved away from the bonding and the structure of the tribe and clan (the tribe as an extension of the clan, the clan as an extension of the family), the church, in structure and function has replaced them in supplying the moral suasion necessary to ensure conformity and continuity.
THE SOCIETY
The society is ultimately responsible for reinforcement of values, encouraging acceptable behaviour by rewarding good and discouraging bad or unacceptable by appropriate punishment. In doing so it is fulfilling its responsibility for the maintenance of order through the application of the law. Societal norms and values are determined by both internal and external factors acting upon the collective whole (the people). These are adjusted according to the needs of the society, being continually redefined according to economic, social and environmental factors. Noting that a people are the lengthened shadow of its leadership, one can easily determine the commonly shared values of the society by looking at its leadership or visa versa.
THE SOLUTION
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Develop an effective body of men who will become icons of virtue/manliness in the society in accordance to Bible principles of leadership. These men will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies for the introduction and re-enforcement of the values, which reflect true manliness and strong character, in accordance to the principles of the Bible, in the hearts of the males of the society. In doing so we will be training and preparing the male to be father, husband and leader. To be an effective role model. To be a MAN. We will then be putting the man back in the male, back in the family, back in the church equipping him with the strong positive values necessary for effective leadership in society. We must then put in place programmes to motivate men in educational, social and spiritual development. To teach men to develop the necessary qualities or character for leadership and effective relationships (relationships that last). To teach men to develop the character traits that would negate criminal and other socially dysfunctional behaviour. To do this, there must be a series of well co-ordinated events designed to raise the awareness in the male of his role in and his contribution to the deteriorating condition of the society. To impact upon him the importance of changing the way he sees himself. The Church MUST take collective responsibility for implementation of these strategies designed to create an impact on the society.
STRATEGY
Two publics must be addressed.
(1) The male in the church.
This can be done by the hosting of conferences and workshops through active participation of a number of Christian Churches throughout the country. These will culminate in a mass conference in the National Stadium or Jean Pierre Complex.
(2) The male in the outer society.
These will be reached by the organising of mass marches culminating in mass rallies which will make use of the facilities of Woodford Square Port of Spain, Skinner Park San Fernando, Shaw Park Tobago, etc.
The media should be used to sensitise the male masses and to raise the level of awareness in the society, of the solutions to the problems that affect us. It should also be used to encourage dialogue with the relevant authorities, so that effective programmes for child training and male development can be introduced in schools and other training facilities.
The purpose of these activities being to introduce positive sets of values to the male and to reinforce said values through the creation and working of an INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN MEN’S FELLOWSHIP made up of participating churches.
Glenn
Augustus
COORDINATOR - PROJECT ANTROPOS 2000
2nd November 1998