RR #2 Kimmel

            The article “’Bros Before Hos’: The Guy Code” by Michael Kimmel is about men and their masculinity and how they conform to be accepted. This is not Kimmel’s first publication; throughout his extensive research on men he wrote many other books. He is a teacher at the State University of New York, edits the journal Men and Masculinities and uses his accumulated data from many assemblies and interviews with young men ages sixteen to twenty-six to conclude his hypothesis. Kimmel uses evidence to tell us that boys, guys and men all follow rules a set of rules so they do not slip out of their manhood and become a “sissy”, “fag” or “gay”.

            In response to question #2 about the psychology of Guy Code and how boys become men, you read about how boys need to be weaned time with their mother so they don’t become a Momma’s Boy.  Kimmel gives an example of an African American mother was troubled because her husband had taken their three and a half year old son to the barber. The barber used harsh methods on the boy’s hair, which in turn made him cry.  As a result the father told the boys mother that she was not going to be able to spend time with him. The father father’s reason was “ to make sure he don’t become a sissy”(615). In terms of the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud, he theorized that in order to become a man a boy must turn to his father to get the proper tips to masculinity.  Kimmel refers to the famous rapper Eminem is the epitome of masculinity in todays society but little did he know that Marshal Mathers (Eminem) was raised by his mother. This is besides the fact, Kimmel later talks about how all boys stress the importance to stand your own grand, acting tough and don’t show weakness. These findings flowed into the example where Kimmel saw the juxtaposition of a mother and fathers view when their son James was presented with a bully. The mother protested non-violence (avoid the bully or tell a teacher) and the father wanted James to stand up for himself and not be “a wimp” or “a baby”.  Kimmel says, “The Boy Code leaves boys disconnected from a wide range of emotions and prohibited from sharing those feelings with others”(616).  Kimmel explained that men should not be interested in what a woman has to say and by men being promoted to become so distant from their feelings we are losing the gentlemen in our world.

            Kimmel uses all three of Aristotle’s appeals in the article “’Bros Before Hos’: The Guy Code”. He uses great Ethos, like I said in the first paragraph he has done extensive research on this topic and teaches at the State University of New York. Kimmel uses great Logos to persuade the reader; throughout his article he uses great facts that you can use to relate the topic to your own life’s experiences.  As a man I have gone through said experiences of standing up for yourself and sucking it up. The last of the appeals is Pathos, which makes me think about the outdated concept of being a chivalrous and a gentleman; furthermore, Kimmel’s article gets you thinking on an emotional level (even if were not supposed to) because it applies to all of us men.