March 19, 2024 Luca Ragosta
What does it mean to be a man? Some may say a muscular man, others might say a businessman. But what do these examples both have in common. They both have power. The idea of a man is directly associated with the idea of power. Because of this, certain men, as we will see in this essay, feel powerless since they do not fit the image of what it means to be a “man.” Due to the powerlessness these men feel, they often resort to violence as a way of obtaining power. We can see that certain groups of men, such as the white supremacists at Charlottesville and the incels attacking women, use violence to no longer feel powerless.
Firstly, we can analyse the case of the white supremacists at Charlottesville, and how these men resort to violence to solve the issue of their powerlessness. According to Michael Kimmel, these men feel powerless because they feel as if they do not have control over their own lives. Whether it be in their relationships with their wives or in the workplace with their bosses, these men feel as if they are weak men who do not fit the image of a masculine man. The idea of a masculine man is a man who is not told what to do and controls everything in his life, including the women he is with. These men, therefore, feel as if there is someone responsible for them not being in power of their own lives. However, instead of realizing it is due to the institutions put in place in society, such as capitalism and the patriarchy, they instead blame their issues on people such as immigrants, Black people, Jewish people and other groups. Why does my boss treat me like shit? Because he’s Jewish! Why can’t I get a job? Because of the immigrants! Why don’t I have control in my relationship? Because feminism gave her too many rights! We can see here that marginalized communities are often the targets of these men and are utilized as scapegoats for the powerlessness they feel.
Secondly, we can analyze how incels use violence to regain power as a means of getting power in their final moments. According to Michael Kimmel, manhood is considered the ability to have power over many things, including women. Therefore, if you are unable to go out with a woman, then you are not really seen as a man. This is a problem many incels face. Incels are men who, due to their appearance or their neurodivergence, are unable to go out with women. Because of this, many of them have simply given up on the prospect of going out with a woman as well as the prospect of living life. Many of these incels are unhappy people who have lost all hope in having a family when they grow up. This powerlessness turns into anger, and instead of working to better themselves, they instead blame their problems on women. They therefore become radicalized and start to believe women deliberately do not go out with them for evil reasons. Many of these men end up going online and, as Will James mentioned, end up finding groups of men who think the same way they do. They then become radicalized and join these echo chambers in which they begin to despise women. This powerlessness combined with their views of women causes many of them to decide to commit violent acts towards women as an act of revenge towards what they see as their enemies.
In conclusion, we can how the powerlessness causes many of these men to act in violence manners to feel a sense of control. These men feel unhappy and discontent with their lives and, instead of working to solve the issue through meaningful change, they instead decide to find a scapegoat for all their issues, as, it is not only easier but also gives them an excuse for all their difficulties and struggles in life.
Charlottesville: Race and Terror. YouTube, Vice News, 14 Aug. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P54sP0Nlngg&t=5s. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022.
Inside Incel, CBC, The Fifth Estate, 27 Jan. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqWjCHPg9gA. Accessed 25 Sept. 2023.
James, Will, Online Influencers, Toxic Masculinity, and the Classroom, Vanier College, March 5, 2024
Fight Clubs/Night Clubs 
Luca, your essay demonstrates a strong understanding of the complex relationship between masculinity, powerlessness, and violence as discussed in Michael Kimmel’s essay and the documentaries. You’ve effectively connected these concepts to the behaviors exhibited by the white supremacists in Charlottesville and the incel community, highlighting the scapegoating of marginalized groups as a response to perceived powerlessness. I would have liked to have seen you cite specific examples from these documentaries to deepen your analysis and use of some of Kimmel’s key concepts.
While your analysis is insightful, your essay could benefit from a clearer introduction with a defined thesis statement that outlines the main arguments you will be discussing. Additionally, consider integrating direct quotes or more specific details from Kimmel’s essay and Will James’ talk to strengthen your points and demonstrate a deeper engagement with the material. I’m curious about how you might incorporate a discussion on how online communities, as mentioned by Will James, contribute to the radicalization of individuals and the reinforcement of toxic masculinity. How do these virtual spaces amplify the feelings of powerlessness and the resulting violence?
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