Hello,
An interesting historical figure in Bederman's Manliness and Civilization is the educator, G. Stanley Hall. Unlike Jack Johnson, Ida B. Wells, and Theodore Roosevelt, Hall would live his life in a manner that was outside the public eye. As an early twentieth century educator, Hall believed in propagating the theory that little boys in America were softening and that kindergarten teachers should help boys become savages, in order to harden these boys into strong young men that could help strengthen American society. If over civilization was threatening American manhood during this time period, then why did Hall assume that making boys do savage acts in early age, would make them strong young men in American society? Serious intellectual thought refuted Halls theory but I still ask what was the social atmosphere of this time period that allowed for this theory to come forth in the first place?
Thanks
I felt Hall thought all boys were born with a savage traits inherited from their less civilized ancestors. If boys were allowed to act on their savage emotions they could learn to master those emotions and thus, become "super-men." On page 91 he discusses how "primitive masculinity could evolve into civilized manliness." It was all a little confusing to me.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding was that they needed to get it out of their system while still staying in tune with that side of theirselves which is always present. Holding it in will just make them weak, and as others have stated, the idea of holding it in didn't fit with Hall's life of self gratification so he altered manliness to fit his own mold.
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