What Does Masculinity Mean in Jamaica? by Kayla Russell https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf What has been defining masculinity in Jamaica? Investigating this gives us a better picture of what is/was influencing younger generations and older ones. en-us 2023-04-01 04:51:45 UTC 2026-01-03 02:51:26 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f1ef-1f1f2.png kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540487478 In this song by a popular dancehall artist, Vybz Kartel or Adidja Palmer, has made it clear what he thinks masculinity is about. The persona of the "badman" entails a dominate and aggressive character. One who does not fear authority and plays by their own rules. As his following continues to grow so does his message on masculinity. This influence on the vast majority, most of which are male, has it's impacts. ]]> 2023-04-01 05:38:18 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540487478 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540498002 2023-04-01 06:22:18 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540498002 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540499181 What is a men's role in the Caribbean? Examples of this are shown generationally. Seeing both men and women working within these communities gives young boys a visual representation of careers and gender identity (timestamp: 3:48, 5:55, 9:47). Scotland addresses the power of our voices and how many issues can be resolved by using our voices for different social issues, such as negative stereotypes and negative influences from our environment.

How do these mixtures of cultures affect us emotionally and socially?  

Does this have a part to play in with gender identity or masculinity? ]]> 2023-04-01 06:26:51 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540499181 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540499382 2023-04-01 06:27:38 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540499382 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540700080 What does seeing vulnerable and motivating stories like Errol Fabien's mean when it comes to showing positive role models? We can ask this question or recognize that seeing more relatable stories and representations of men choosing different paths than what's been portrayed in the past has also had its effect. As mentioned, things like the music industry and history can make a huge impact, especially the opportunity to get a wide platform to do so. Would you say Fabien's life story is part of what masculinity means? Why or why not? Would you say Fabien is a positive role model? ]]> 2023-04-01 15:50:13 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540700080 One young boy and girl dealing with gang violence and social pressures kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540705876 2023-04-01 16:04:24 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540705876 Speaking on Open Platforms kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540706073 2023-04-01 16:04:53 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540706073 Our Environment kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540706176 2023-04-01 16:05:11 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540706176 The Science Behind it kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540719105 Jamaican Masculinity: The Nexus of Testosterone and Culture Nicholas Smith Macaulay Honours College 225

As you read page 58 of this volume, Smith starts off by introducing science into the topic on masculinity. Here are two quotes I want you to consider: 

"In the scientific community, researchers acknowledge that androgens affect physical, psychological and behavioral changes in individuals" (Smith 58).

"Common Jamaican wisdom holds that aggression, jealousy, lust, possessiveness, dominance, and competitiveness are “male-typical” behaviors driven largely by testosterone or as symptoms of its decrease (Low Testosterone, 2015). Since one of the main distinguishing biological factors between males and females is the ratio of sex hormones they produce, it is reasonable to imagine that these hormones must have influence on sexualized behaviours such as these" (Smith, 58).

What relevance does this have to masculinity? Would one say that science is a part of the reason we define masculinity as it is both scientifically and socially structured or is there more to it? ]]> 2023-04-01 16:39:55 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540719105 Is this Conversation Still Worth Having? kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540721264  ]]> 2023-04-01 16:45:32 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540721264 Photo Location: The streets of St. Ann's Bay in Jamaica kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540727959 2023-04-01 17:00:17 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540727959 Pick out three things you think have to do with this definition as you continue on kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540745774 2023-04-01 17:44:15 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540745774 The Gleaner kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540751143
Consider the comments underneath the article listed to the right.]]> 2023-04-01 17:58:32 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540751143 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540751233 Here we have Dr. Herbert Gayle speaking on the expectations many men face when it comes to their emotions. In the section below, you will see how one man is using his platform to talk about why emotions are important. With Dr. Gayle, he is addressing them quite differently. 

Compare the two approaches. 

How do we get young men to become more open and how should we be addressing this within our own homes and publicly? Does Dr. Gayle use any insensitive language, how would you give the message he is giving? 

Why is defining a stable male important and what do you think that looks like after reading this newspaper?]]> 2023-04-01 17:58:44 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540751233 "Jamaican boys have increasingly resisted schooling as "girlish"." kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540764989 I encourage you to read the whole article. This discussion on male behaviour in the classroom is being followed and page 6 of this discussion addresses some key points as to why this may be occurring as it opens up the conversation to male gender identity. 




    ]]> 2023-04-01 18:36:32 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540764989 Who defines us? kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540768289
In a situation where one person out of a population is a deviant, we would focus an explanation of his deviance on the formation of his personality. But in a situation where an entire section of a population is deviant, our focus inevitably must be directed to processes that shape the foundations of behaviour.


- Barry Chevannes

]]> 2023-04-01 18:46:32 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540768289 The Gleaner: Problematic Jamaican Masculinity, The Construction of Jamaican Masculinity & Consequences of Jamaican Masculinity kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540778473 What can one conclude from this article? 

In short, we see an image of Vybz Kartel being shown (claims to his influence on manhood), a lack of encouragement for men in education, constant depictions of violence within the male identity, plus more.

The claim here is that Jamaican masculinity has a part to people in violent forms of heterosexuality, homophobia, and defining masculinity partially through anti-femininity.  

These are all consequences described by how many parts of society and within the country itself have portrayed manhood. How do these claims reign true? Where exactly is this connection being made? Are we saying that all depictions from dancehall artists and more are our only source of defining Jamaican masculinity?  

How is it that these controversial portrayals of masculinity hold such a strong foundation on Jamaican masculinity? Who is contributing to this and who is normalizing it without realizing it?]]> 2023-04-01 19:13:39 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540778473 The Church kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540780473 2023-04-01 19:19:21 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540780473 What Do you Think? kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540781459 Is defining masculinity important? Do we subliminally define it more and more every day? How do we go about defining it culturally in a way that reflects a more forward-looing outlook? Is it a little easier or harder than we think? ]]> 2023-04-01 19:22:15 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540781459 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540783766 My job is to not prove whether masculinity needs to be redefined. We know masculinity has varying definitions and we know that toxic masculinity is also a relevant term in how, culturally, toxic male behaviours are spotted. We are looking at a close case here with Jamaica. As well as what aspects point to this word's definition. 

 I will be discussing different angles from the entertainment industry to psychology and more on the nature of this inquiry. My title, What Does Masculinity Mean in Jamaica? is the investigation.]]> 2023-04-01 19:27:55 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540783766 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540784010 I want to preface this by saying there are a plethora of issues that the Caribbean is facing. As of today, does how Jamaicans define masculinity have a role to play in this generation or later ones? Is this worth investigating? 

After I present the collected data shown throughout this poster come back to this question. The goal is to try and figure out how this one word may or may not be impacting Jamaican men. ]]> 2023-04-01 19:28:31 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540784010 Page 6 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540784360 "I asked as a warm up for participants to give me one word "off the top of their heads" which they associated with Jamaican girl child, Jamaican boy child, Jamaican mother, Jamaican father, and a couple of other associations. Of the 25 words associated with boy child 17 were negative (troublesome, challenging, rude, etc.); of
the 24 responses to girl child, 22 were positive (sweet, loving, more focused, etc.) and the other 2 more neutral than negative...I cannot say whether these seasoned and well-educated teachers ACT on these expectations or simply were reflecting what are strong cultural associations. But, (this is) still how they see very young boys and girls "off the top of their heads". Children generally live up (or down) to what others expect of them" (Jamaica Partners for Educational Progress 2011). 
]]> 2023-04-01 19:29:26 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540784360 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540784487 Now, how do male expectations affect the schooling of young boys? If not, where exactly are these negative expectations of words described above rooted?  Do you agree with the statement that children generally live up to expectations?  In this case, how have we seen this in our own lives? If we see it on an individual level how do we individually contribute to these cultural associations?]]> 2023-04-01 19:29:49 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540784487 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787079 I decided to involve this video as we can see a mother's distress from what's happening to her children. There are many influences on how men choose to identify themselves. Some wish to identify within gangs or other times choose a path of violence. Why is this and is there a tie to toxic masculinity still surfacing in young men today?  ]]> 2023-04-01 19:37:08 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787079 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787150 Janaira's younger brother reveals he doesn't know what he wants to do. This begs the question of whether a limited view of future prospects for young boys leads them to a path of resistance or whether there is a lack of community support/unity, does this also have a part to play? Does fatherhood become a significant part of this conversation?  Is it true that the internal struggle of figuring out what one wishes to do leads young men to default to the pressures of society? ]]> 2023-04-01 19:37:22 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787150 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787249 Mental health is also brought into question, as to counteract masculinity, within toxic masculinity, there is a stigma against men being able to talk about one's emotions. In this case, Karamo, the host, is using his platform as a chance to mend relationships and reconcile things by showing being emotive is okay when we try to work them out and get to the root of the problem.  What impact does this have on us and masculinity especially using such a well-known social media platform such as Youtube and entertainment with television? ]]> 2023-04-01 19:37:40 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787249 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787517 What about this language is inclusive or exclusive? What about the definition is clarifying? Or is it clouded?]]> 2023-04-01 19:38:24 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787517 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787663 2023-04-01 19:38:52 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787663 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787898 What does it mean to transform one ever-changing rooted word in society? Do the people involved have to change or how do we define the word daily? Dr. Peter Douglas Weller clinical psychologist and Caribbean therapist is introducing new ideas on masculinity in the Caribbean.  I recommend watching the whole video but also 16:09 is a good start to the conversation.]]> 2023-04-01 19:39:39 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540787898 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540788055 What are young people being told about male behaviour? Everyone loves mainstream movie productions and rightfully so, they are part of a lot of people's childhood. But there are many messages about what gender roles are and who one should be. Of course, the intention is not to take fictitious movies and relate them to reality, as one would presume. However, to a child, the information they are absorbing is different from how things are. ]]> 2023-04-01 19:40:06 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540788055 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540788112 In this volume, it is revealed that well-known movies such as Beauty and the Beast aren't a great depiction of what masculinity is. However, we can educate young people on the realities of social responsibility. We can't rely on any kind of entertainment industry to do so, seeing as the message from them isn't always meant in a time and space for young children trying to understand the world. 

How has fiction from the entertainment industry, literature and your environment influenced your views on gender roles or masculinity? ]]> 2023-04-01 19:40:20 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540788112 The Dancehall Documentary kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540794096 In this documentary, we will be focusing on sexuality and its part to play in masculinity. In the timestamp 6:24-8:24, we are brought into 4 different perspectives. Two of which are from females in academia. This is referenced to the fact that sexual partners are a big part of masculinity that can be dangerous and have more influence on the culture. ]]> 2023-04-01 19:56:19 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540794096 "Gyalis" kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540795729 Today, this same cultural influence is still portraying the same message internationally. Capella Grey an up-and-coming male artist of this generation has similarities to this normalization of multiple partners. As well as how men controversially view females within those relationships.]]> 2023-04-01 20:00:56 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540795729 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540797163 2023-04-01 20:04:46 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540797163 Something to Consider kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540797753 " A prominent explanation in the literature on domestic abuse was power and control linked to patriarchy. Power and control stemming from historical notions of women and children and their place in relation to men is still relevant. Men have crafted a discourse of superiority and entitlement, power and ownership over that which they possess. As a Christian country, this religion has taught men and women that their wives must subject themselves to their husbands. Wedding vows would teach women to love, honour, and obey their husbands; that was the era in which my mother got married. I don't know how many still subscribe to this, but this is a religion, like others with historical roots, that took its cues from powerful men — men like Henry VIII, who manipulated Christianity to allow him the freedom to dispense with his wives at the drop of a hat (or head, in his case)" (Graham 2020). ]]> 2023-04-01 20:06:35 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540797753 The Author kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540800081 Carolyn Graham gets vulnerable and honest about domestic abuse within her household. She believes there are deeply systemic and religious roots that are partially affecting Jamaican masculinity. One may conclude that those religious beliefs are taken out of context to excuse domestic abuse. Anger and violence, traits Graham is attributing to masculinity, are being argued. 

In this case, the Church seems to be brought into question by how gender roles are viewed within a relationship. What congruency is brought into question here on masculine behaviour within a relationship and religious beliefs?]]> 2023-04-01 20:13:04 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540800081 Heterosexuality kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540801802 It is also important to note heteronormative outlooks on relationships and masculinity in general. Is the language used in this news report inclusive or exclusive? Why or why not, and where might this stem from? ]]> 2023-04-01 20:17:49 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540801802 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540804761 What do you define masculinity as? ]]> 2023-04-01 20:26:01 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540804761 kaylarussellj https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540833150 How does the uniqueness of a person described in the video alter the narrative that gender identity is definitive?]]> 2023-04-01 21:49:36 UTC https://padlet.com/kaylarussellj/qw1th6weuvy6syrf/wish/2540833150