Latino Identity in Contemporary America by Martin Bulmer John Solomos

Author:Martin Bulmer, John Solomos [Martin Bulmer, John Solomos]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138676541
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2016-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

Muscular Christianity

Victory Outreach’s reformation of male behaviour is not the same as that which has occurred with other Christian-based men’s movements. Historically, Christian-based American men’s movements, such as the Promise Keepers, have targeted feminism and the feminization of social spheres as responsible for emergent social problems (Messner 1997). During my research on Victory Outreach I found no such indications. For example, at a Victory Outreach carwash, male members were excessively cheerful and humorous while working, despite the fact that a woman was responsible for collecting money and keeping track of members’ duties. This is not to say that progressive understandings of sex and gender existed at Victory Outreach. The division of labour between Victory Outreach male and female members, with male pastors, female ushers and male security guards, reflects the sexual division of labour that feminists have so widely protested against in mainstream society. Arlene Sanchez-Walsh (2003) corroborates this facet of Victory Outreach. However, Victory Outreach is a patriarchal institution in which male leaders encourage male members to reflect upon the way in which their behaviour can be reformed for the social and economic benefit of themselves and their families. For example, Mario said:

Sometimes [women] go off, like, “Naw! You don’t do nothing!” … [Victory Outreach leaders] teach us to humble ourselves, to be quiet. Between all the words that they’re throwing out, you’re gonna be able to hear their need. You know, and you’re gonna be able to capture what the problem is. And then you’re gonna have to work on it, to fix the problem. Not bring more problems.

After Mario talked about the changes he is ready to make in his life to be ready for domestic responsibilities, I asked what he expects from his wife. Mario said, ‘What I’m expecting from her? To be the way she is, all the way through.’ Whereas ‘muscular Christianity’ leaders sought to masculinize men and feared the feminization of social spheres, Victory Outreach leaders sought to shape hyper-masculine men into persons more sensitive to social interactions – in a manner which brought them in line with broader American conventions of sex and gender.

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