Asserting Dominance Through Physical Punishment:
Often times most families have one parent that is more
authoritative than the other, usually the father being the head. However,
sometimes this parent gains their authority through fear and physical abuse
towards both their children and/or spouse. In today's society it is not uncommon
for a father or male figure in a family to assert their dominance by beating
his wife and children. This issue is becoming more and more prevalent in the
media because this idea is promoted through magazines and television telling
males that it is alright for this behavior to continue like this. Popular
magazines usually will contain articles and ads that claim that in order for a
man to keep his woman he must be the one who is in charge, and most of the time
implying that he needs to take control and be the aggressor, especially when it
comes to their sexual life. Also, in TV and movies the idea that the male must
be tough, masculine, and dominate and stand out above all is the only way in
which a guy can win the love of the girl that he is chasing after. This way of
thinking helps to prompt the idea that the man has to be dominant over everyone
he thinks of as inferior to him. I found this thought process particularly
prevalent in the book Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo felt that he was justified to
beat any one of his children or his wives if they did something that he would
consider to be the slightest bit lazy or, if it were one of his sons something
that was considered feminine or womanly. Okonkwo did not feel remorse or that he was
doing something wrong because of his preconceived notion that as the man he had
to assert his dominance of those inferior to him and put them in their place. I
personally feel that this idea is turning society backwards. For centuries
females have fought for their rights, and with this idea that the man is still
overtly dominant over all others is just going to take away the rights that
people have fought so hard to get. Also, this idea brings dangers to
relationships. A large percentage of females will experience some sort of
physical or verbal abuse in a relationship. I do not think that this extreme
view is beneficial to our society and that this idea of total male dominance
should be presented in any media for the fear of abusive relationships
increasing.
