These
simple exercises enlighten students to their own and their classmates’
attitudes about men. I organized and
copied their comments for presentation on a transparency sheet for classroom
discussion in the third week of classes; and the second and the first comments
together, in the last week of classes.
See the sample comment sheets below.
First class
Men's Lives Opinion Survey Jeffrey Asher, Teacher
10 minutes allowed. Do not write your name. Circle one: MALE FEMALE Code your form with letters and numbers (birth date, parents' initials, your initials scrambled) so that you can identify your returned form. Selected results will be read to the class over the next month. BLOCK PRINT so your handwriting cannot be identified. You may write on both sides of this sheet. Turn your answer face down when you are finished.
What is your opinion about
men?
Men's Lives Opinion Survey Jeffrey Asher, Teacher
10 minutes allowed. Do not write your name, and write in block letters. Circle one: MALE FEMALE Selected results will be read to the class over the next month. BLOCK PRINT so your handwriting cannot be identified. You may write on both sides of this sheet. Turn your answer face down when you are finished.
What are the best and worst
qualities of men?
“Men's Lives” Opinion Survey Jeffrey Asher, Teacher
(January
2000 Responses from 4 Classes of 30 students each)
Question: What is your opinion about men?
Part 1
|
Comments from Women |
Comments from Men |
Supportive comments
|
|
|
Men are expected to deal with emotional issues while showing little emotion. Men play an important role in society. Their presence within families is essential There are not enough role models for young men who are growing up. I usually get along better with men than women. Women's problems seem to be regarded as more important than those facing men. Men can also be caring individuals. My friend showed me statistics that show men suffer immensely from prejudice. I had no idea how unfairly men were being treated. ... This is what inspired me to take this course. I want to be educated on what is based on fact and not on opinion. In our society, men's lives are considered less important than women's. There is a lot of pressure put on men to act a certain way or carry out specific goals For all the women out there, a bad experience with one man doesn't mean a repeat with the next. Men are sensitive on the inside. Generally speaking, men are good companions, and have always been there for me. Men are very intelligent. They created the world, invented many useful things, like computers ... Men need love and support. Men and women compliment each other because they each possess qualities and abilities and attributes which the other sex can learn from, such as views on family values ... and expression of emotions. Men are needed in society. They play essential roles in our everyday lives. Men are neglected when we look at the way society controls their emotions. Men complete women ... they are often misunderstood by women... Men often don't show emotions because of society's expectations for them to be strong. Throughout history, men have been forced into the role of strength, power, and provider. It must be difficult to live up to such high expectations. Although women today are take leading roles in the work force, men were the first to take on the big, important roles in the work force. Men can be caring, loving fathers and husbands, and women need them to survive. |
If There is a problem with women ... it is usually the man who is arrested, and the woman who remains home while the man has to leave. Men live shorter lives than women, hold jobs that are insecure and dangerous, and are discriminated against by the media. Almost everything a man does, is to attract a mate, because of his primal urge to reproduce. Some males go to great lengths to impress a female. In most cases, men are held responsible for acts of aggression, such as violent crimes, car accidents, rape. This idea leads most people to form a prejudice against males due to the actions of a small minority. Feminists have bashed men for years, and most people believe them. Men are very stereotyped. Men are most often the ones who sacrifice themselves for their family. Men created philosophy, architecture, engineering, and countless other wonders ... Men died in war to free their country from oppression. Still, due to feminism, all this means nothing, and men are seen as violent, raping pigs. Injustices against men are ignored. Men are very under-appreciated ... often stereotyped as sex-driven rapists who haven't an ounce of sensitivity in bodies. We almost never hear of men being victims of women. Men are intelligent, caring beings who can accomplish anything. Some women seem to want to oppress men. Women think that men are only sexually motivated. Men take responsibility in politics, the economy, by following tradition, and by being the 'bread-winner' for their family. We can be so complex, and yet we can be so feeble. |
Part 2
Question: What is
your opinion about men?
|
Comments from Women |
Comments from Men |
Critical comments |
|
|
I think men are violent. They always need to win and become more powerful in any field. ... It's hard for them to listen, they always want to be in the center of attention. Men are not really faithful in love. They are obsessed by sex. Men believe that they are superior, yet there is just a significant difference from women. Every man wants a woman like his mother. Men tend to be aggressive. Males mature slower than females. They are often dependent on females to complete general tasks. Men are immature for their age. Men always find a way to gain power and control, and they don't learn from their mistakes. Men have it easy. Most men think that they are more powerful than women, which is not true. Men think that they are invincible. Men have always had the role that they are in charge. They call the shots. Men are now being more selfish and more materialist. They are not as generous as they used to be. There are bad men who should be classified as dogs. Men still think they have all the power over women, but they don't. When it comes to relationships, men are heartless, and they only think about themselves. Why were the ones chosen to dominate over women? Often men are more violent. We live in a male dominated society. The structure of the government and the standards we live by, are all male. The men who have power in our society abuse their power. Men can be dominate and narrow minded because the hate to be wrong. They believe that their way is the right way. Some men are macho, self- or sex-involved people. Men are focused individuals. Once they set out to accomplish something, they forget all about their environment and concentrate on their goal. Men need to be appreciated, and understood. Men do not express their emotions publicly. |
Men still dominate most of the elite positions, most of the sports, common jobs and family control. Many believe that men are the abusers of women and children. Males show lower educational standards than females, and tend to achieve lower. Most men think that women belong at home with their children, and think of them as sex objects. I do not like men, nor do I like associating with them. Men tend to be more aggressive by nature ... the majority are. Men are more authoritative and aggressive, but with that authority comes responsibility. Men tend to abuse that authority. ... Men screwed up the world. Men are not very sensitive, and quiet about emotion. Men are very competitive. They are lazy compared to women. A lot of men don't deserve to be treated as men because they are stupid, physically unfit, etc. Men are egotistical and feel the need to have control over people, objects, and the environment. Men are shown as nothing but walking war hungry hormones. Men are powerful and controlling, which is why they like to show and expose their power. Men are arrogant, testosterone- filled pigs. This is my initial opinion. Men are a lot shallower than women. Men want power and prestige. |