Man and Woman

Sam knowing is an American author, philosopher and professor born in the year 1931 whose writings and teachings learn explored beas such as religion, philosophy and psychology. Sam Keens writings have been contracted on the multitudinous questions of love, life, religion, and macrocosm a populace in a current association which he discusses in his book Fire in the Belly On Being a hu universekind (1991). From the book Fire in the Belly the leaven Man and WOMAN was extracted.Along with these literary pieces, popular books such as Apology of call into question (1969), Faces of the Enemy (1986), and Learning to Fly T mess upze- Reflections on Fear, Trust, and the Joy of Letting Go (1999) argon all products of Keens literary works of art. After Keens academic interest group of graduating from Ursinus College in 1953 with his undergraduate degree. Keen obtained obtained his graduate degrees from Harvard University and Princeton University. Keen was then a professor of the phi losophy of religion at a seminary known as the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary for six years.Keen subsequently became an editor for Psychology nowadays magazine and at that placeafter ventured in to the field of writing. The focus of this essay result be on the extract Man and WOMAN. Man and WOMAN as was mentioned before, was extracted from Keens book Fire in the Belly On Being a Man that is base on the examination of the stereotypical perceptions and myths surrounding the idealistic c one timepts of military man and WOMAN, and the roles both sexes play. This essay will discuss what is required of a man to attain true manhood as they examine their trinomial views of WOMAN as Goddess and Creatrix, WOMAN as M different and Matrix, and WOMAN as Erotic-Spiritual Power.The concept of manhood has been incorrectly identified for several generations now. The qualities believed to be possessed by a young-begetting(prenominal) in order to be considered a man be leafy veg etablely those that are contrary to the characteristics actually possessed by a true man. In past generations and nevertheless more so today, cosmos manly involves world macho in full control of any and every(prenominal)thing, being Mr. Know It All, being quick and mighty, fierce, and a cocky braggart. However, these traits in no way cave in to manhood. In Man and WOMAN, Keen expresses that men in fact are those liable for their struggles in reaching the state of true manhood.Keen mentions that one of the study tasks of manhood is to explore the unconscious(p) noniceings that surround our (mens room) various images of WOMAN, to dispel counterfeit mystification, to dissolve the vague sense of threat and fear, and finally to learn to comply and love the strangeness of cleaning fair sexkind (Verburg, 2000, pg. 332 ). However, without a doubt, more than half the males in hostelry that regard themselves as men are no way near regular(a) sharing the same opinion or t rain of thought as Keens in regards to evaluating ones self and validating and embracing the being of a woman to reach the destination of true manhood.In fact, their efforts of becoming a man is focused simply on themselves. The input or significance of woman in the opinions of males today have no relevance whatsoever throughout the course of them becoming true men. In Keens essay, he opposes the idea of males solely becoming men. Keen argues that in order for a tike who later becomes a man-child, to evolve into that of being a man, he must basic purge his mind of the misconceptions of a WOMAN, and the unconscious feelings (Verburg, 2000, pg. 32 ) that surround those misconceptions. The prototypal of the three views on WOMAN males must address in the move of becoming a man is WOMAN as Goddess and Creatrix. As the designation WOMAN as Goddess and Creatrix would imply, it is referring to the fact that women are the sex that brings about creation. hardly females possess the abil ity to bring forth a child, which males often times feel threatens their significance and importance as men- the sex believed to be the dominantly essential.However, what men get going to realize as what Keen expresses as the challenge WOMAN as Creatrix presents to a man to justify his existence (Verburg, 2000, pg. 334), is that both sexes are as important. It is impossible for a female to impregnate herself without the sperm of a man. Women are actually knowledgeable of the impossibility of self-conception as well, and would readily accept that the battle of man is represently important in procreating.Though, the macho smell of males that drive them to believe preferable superiority over women wouldnt allow males to freely accept equal importance to females. The reason the conscience of males constantly haunts them is that, hands down, child bursting charge is dumbfounding and an honorable thing which males cannot deny nor carry out. Thus, males constantly feel inferior to females in regards to creation and continue to believe that the males participation in procreating is still inadequate. therefore, males resort to trying to find every possible defense of their existence which is not the manliest thing to do. Keen expresses the males justification efforts in the essay as he verbalise much of the meaning men impute to their work is a response to the question posed to us by WOMANS capacity to give life (Verburg, 2000, pg. 334 ). Instead of competing with the importance of womens existence, men should not yet become aware of the significance of women as child bearers unless rather wholeheartedly embrace the divine capability of women and accept, and respect the worth(predicate) of both women and men.Secondly, in regards to WOMAN as Mother and Matrix, Keen describes the roles of a WOMAN as the mirror through which a child starts sightedness themselves, as the initial teacher that molds the childs eventual thoughts, opinions, and perspectives, as nurturer, and as an knowledge system through which the child begins to view and understand the world, the surroundings, and last and not least themselves. WOMAN as Mother and Matrix is the firstborn influential person encountered by a child with whom a strong cling is established if not the strongest.Keens support of how critical the relationship amongst mother and child is was established as he made the statements She exists fitly I am. Within the warp of her womb our bodies are woven- strain of her flesh (Verburg, 2000, pg. 335). The child delivered after nine months of pregnancy is literally a part of the mother, a part of her being, was developed and nurtured within her body. Thus, there is an immediate bond that comes into existence even before the child is delivered. Hence, the instant attachment between a mother and child is inevitable.However, it is the extent to which the attachment prevails that becomes a concern. Keens focus on the attachment issue between mother and child was based on the parental situation involving a son. Because of the very important and native role a mother plays in raring her son there comes a point in her sons life that he falls in love with his mother and disregards the role and significance of a start out (Freud, 1899, pg. 296). However, according to Keen the son eventually renounces his desire to be his mothers lover and threads common cause with his enemy- the father (Verburg, 2000, pg. 336).Reestablishing a relationship with the father then provides the prospect for the son to become exposed and grasp the qualities and values of being a man. The fact of todays family oriented reality however, lacks that of a father figure in the household. Numerous homes in todays society are composed of single mothers and their child/children. In order to emphasize on the imagery of miss a father in modern families, Keen went on to say where once there was a father, there is now a vacuum (Verburg, 2000, pg336). A vacuum is defined as the absence of a normal or previous content of a place, environment, etc. (Oxford, 1982, pg. 1185). Thus, Keen could not have compared the lack of a dad to anything better that that of a vacuum. The emptiness left-hand(a) in a family as a result of lacking a father is in fact like that of a vacuum. The empty topographic point is the absence of a father figure (the previous content) that had formerly play a role in the family. As a result, Keen argues that lacking a dad leads the son to become and remain a mamas boy, and that the son therefore becomes disconnected from an exemplary person who would guide him to manhood. Keen stated The provideful father has been all but replaced by the powerful mother. atomic number 91 is no longer present to teach his sons how to be men. (Verburg, 2000, pg. 336). Mothers have boldly taken on the challenge of working, maintaining a household, raring their children, and paying the bills. Women are no longer dependent on a male helper as bread winner and provider in a home. And the effectuality and courage mothers display by being both mother and father in the homes is what results in sons becoming more attached to their mothers. The sons admire and greatly appreciate the efforts and responsibilities taken on by the mother to meet their guides.Therefore sons begin to live their lives with the ultimate purpose of pleasing mom and being the ideal son. Though, growing up in a single-parent home with only a mother and greatly respecting and honoring her is no excuse for a son not to be able to develop into a full fledged man. A father figure might be rattlebrained in the home, but there are uncles, grandfathers, older male cousins, and even exemplary male figures in society that the sons can look up to for guidance to achieve manhood. Achieving manhood in such a modern family might in fact make the task even more challenging, but in no way it makes reaching manhood impossible.Lastly, mens view of WOMAN as Erotic-S piritual Power is focused on the air that ultimately, a woman is the prime mover (Verburg, 2000, pg. 338) in the versed aspect of life. Based on Eastern mythology the female principle is seen as energetic and the male as responsive (Verburg, 2000, pg. 338). Whether the woman out rightly suggests sexual intercourse or seduces a man into the act by her attire, the woman is considered the sexual initiator. Even in extreme situations such as rape, the raper would justify his act with the defense that the woman was the initiator of the act.The rapist would make claims such as the woman tempted him, and that she wanted it (Verburg, 2000, pg. 338). However, in a accordant situation or an unfortunate one such as rape no one individual is responsible for the actions taken by the other person but of themselves. Hence, the WOMAN as Erotic-Spiritual Power is free of any connection whatsoever to the train of thought or moral decision a man would make in regards to his sexual perception of the WOMANS expression or intention. Manhood entails taking responsibility for your own actions, each and every one of them. A true man dominates his thoughts and opinions.A man knows what he wants, and knows exactly why he does what he does. A woman, regardless of how intriguing she might dress, or how appealing she might be, has no responsibility or dominating sexual influence on a male whos achieved manhood. In essence, Keens opinion on achieving true manhood involved exorcizing the numerous first creatures (Verburg, 2000. pg. 332) men have of women in their heads, understanding and embracing the existence and being of womankind, and evaluating themselves as men and the unconscious feelings attached to their some(prenominal) imageries of women.Unlike what many would believe, manhood is not obtained by nature but is rather nurtured (Denee, 2005). Keen concluded his essay with frank statements such as As men we need to recollect our experience, reown our repressed knowledge of t he power of WOMAN, and cease to establishing our manhood in reactionary ways. So long as we define ourselves by our reactions to unconscious images of WOMAN we remain in exile from the true mystery and power of manhood (Verburg, 2000, pg. 339).