My Opinion on Being a Man

Michael Buchan

Writing Project #2

My Opinion On Being a Man

In Paul Theroux’s, “Being a Man” essay, he talks about what it is like to be a man in today’s American culture.  From the beginning of his essay he takes a negative approach on what being a man is like.  Theroux says, “I have always disliked being a man. The whole idea of manhood in America is pitiful, in my opinion” (176).  He describes men as being stupid, unsympathetic and abusive and supports his opinions with examples throughout his essay.

His first example of what he hates about being a man is the idea of masculinity or being manly.  He looks at these two words as insulting and repugnant. Theroux believes the idea of masculinity is a fight for superiority and thrives on being overly ambitious. He explains that being masculine “…is also by its very nature destructive−emotionally damaging and socially harmful” (176).  He then tells the reader that men are taught these ideals at a young age.

Theroux later criticizes the way that men treat women. From early childhood boys are raised to be immature, while girls are taught to be polite and submissive. Theroux believes that women become “…socially decorative and always alert to a man’s sense of inadequacy” (177).  Women constantly have to put effort into being submissive and pleasing to men to entertain men’s deficient and self-indulgent characters.  He believes that men objectify and belittle women and do not treat them with the respect they deserve. Theroux transitions into a criticism of sports and their effect on men’s behavior.

Starting at a young age Theroux hated sports. He describes sports as “…wasteful and humiliating…” (177). He believes that sports are the main root of the idea of manliness, which he hates.  The majority of sports player’s behaviors are described as irrational and impolite.  Theroux tells us that sports seem to be “…a recipe for creating bad marriages, social misfits, moral degenerates, sadists, latent rapists and just plain louts” (177). In his opinion, sports lead to bad behavior and increased criminal activity among men.  

Ever since Theroux was a child he enjoyed writing as a hobby. He shares about the rejection he feels as a man within the work force because of his love for writing. Theroux says, “…There was a fear that writing was not a manly profession…” (177). He tells the reader that the stereotype of writing is everything opposite of manliness. In order to be a male writer as a profession he says that men have to prove themselves as a man and gain respect of the audience in order to be successful. Theroux gives several examples of male American writers who have gained respect for their writings because of things that have done to prove their manhood outside of the work field. He then criticizes men’s lack of fashion and taste in art and accuses men of being cheaters. He blames this behavior on men’s insecurity. Theroux concludes his writing reinstating his opinion based on his supporting evidence: “It (being a man)... is an unmerciful and punishing burden” (178).