The Vocation of Masculinity (Newsletter #69)

The question of the vocation of masculinity today is not what it is but whether it exists. I examine how traditional societies, and texts like the Bible, assumed pervasive gender polarity that's greatly attenuated today. I discuss what would have traditionally been common attributes of masculine vocation, and how they relate to contemporary society and ideology. The key point of conflict is over the traditional idea that men needed to over-produce in order to provide a surplus beyond their own needs that would benefit family and community.  But so long as we live in a wealthy, prosperous society, weak gender differentiation will likely be the norm.