“Man” overboard.

MAN

a)_____________ evolved from ape.

b)Whatever, _________.

Which sentence is most likely to be said by a man directed to a woman?
Go on; admit it.

The pleasures of language intoxicate male speakers, the high deriving from the gender power structure that laces the bonding word, “man.”

The mentioned sociological observation has taken form from the collective and individual actions of three surveyed men. Each time these men were introduced to a female, he politely or off-handedly said, “Hi, my name is _______.” Depending on how significant this female was to the situation, he either continued to chat in a conversational fashion that was often uncomfortable and unfamiliar, or if she seemed insignificant to the occurrence, ignored her.

Each time these men were introduced to a male, an immediate hand went out for a shake, and the word “man” was thrown down. Usually these men either stuck together to play the “male side” of a conversation with the women, or would compliment one another about explicitly apparent shared interests (once two “men” are established, they can force-feed the “man”-ego).

Before moving the argument further, it is noted that many women also use the term, “man,” interchangeably with other women and other men who are close with them. It is argued that a woman saying it in this sense usually depicts a woman who is less affected by society’s ideals of femininity– The extension of “man” implies an equality and recognition of similarity, of “fellow man.” Women such as these have tried to reclaim the term to establish equality in social situations.

However, when a man addresses another man with the word, “man,” and is introduced to a woman the next second and does not, he reduces the term from the inherent “fellow” of “fellow man,” to “man” as in “male.” The bond then knots itself into conversational tactic when groups of men and women openly interact. The term shows an instant recognition of sharing the role of the dominant biological-sex, and thus unifying to recreate this domination and subordination of women in “small life details,” also called, the short-run.

The long-run: this can be compared to other shared commonalities in the intersections of race, gender, class, sex, and ethnicity. Observably, racial slurs are terms of endearment in certain communities. The slurs are used in order to restore power in the term for that community and to reduce the community’s vulnerability to the term. This also applies to gender slurs: for example, words like “queer” for the gay community and “cunt” for the feminist community.

The male sex (race is not a factor here) uses this term to reinforce unity and to set a standard. Its use denotes that even though women can use the term, men still own it as “man” should. That is, even though women have proven they can be equal, “man” still owns.

You want to fight for equal rights today? Fight the “man.” Throw him overboard.