here is the introductory chapter in my upcoming book Warrior, Poet, Priest: Rediscovering Godly Masculinity. I hope that you not only enjoy reading it, but would also leave some constructive critiques or ideas for improvement.
Introduction
Why do some words have straightforward definitions while others seem elusive? Have you ever been asked by a friend or a three-year-old to explain the meaning of a word, only to draw a blank? I certainly have. One reason, I suppose, is that some words are inherently simple. Dog. Bird. Car. These are all words that can be easily explained. Another reason, I believe, is that some words convey objective concepts while others lean toward the abstract. Male and Female are straightforward terms because they describe a biological distinction, making them more objective. Males possess XY chromosomes, while females possess XX. This difference affects the entire makeup and development of human beings. Males tend to be taller, averaging around five feet nine inches, while women tend to be closer to 5 feet four inches. Women develop breasts and hips men definitely don’t. Men tend to have more angular and bulkier physiques, whereas women tend to have curvier and slimmer ones. Even the terms man and woman have clear definitions. They simply refer to adult males and females. However, not all words are easily definable. Masculinity, for instance, should be as easy to define as male/female or man/woman, but it isn’t. Nowadays, it has become an incredibly frustrating word. The frustration comes from the fact that there is no universal definition for it. Some definitions are overly wordy, failing to capture the essence in a way that everyone can comprehend. For example, Merriam-Webster defines masculinity as “the quality or nature of the male sex: the quality, state, or degree of being masculine or manly.” That definition is slightly helpful, but here is one from Taneasha White of PsychCentral that makes very little sense.
Subscribe to continue reading
Subscribe to get access to the rest of this post and other subscriber-only content.
Foster A... 