It is time for men to become more Homerphobic. What I mean, before you contact the Archbishop, is to fear becoming like popular cartoon figure Homer Simpson.
Homer is the lazy, incompetent, irresponsible, unmotivated husband and father portrayed in “The Simpsons”, whose wife is constantly mopping up his mess.
He is portrayed as a comical figure, but lying beneath the surface is an insidious and more widespread attack on the role of men in today’s society.
It is not that “The Simpsons” franchise invented the degrading image of manhood Homer represents, however they have certainly added to the momentum that has been building over the past fifty or so years.
It is a fascinating and tragic evolution. In the 1950’s the essence of manhood was depicted on the screen by square-jawed men such as John Wayne, Charles Bronson and Marlon Brando – courageous, strong, loyal, protectors of women and children, instigators of justice and never intimidated – the type of man you wanted fighting next to you in the trenches.
Jump through the decades and these portrayals have been replaced by less rugged, smooth skinned, floppy haired individuals such as Johnny Depp, Hugh Grant and Brad Pitt or blundering fools such as those depicted on a growing number of animated and comedy based productions – watched largely by children and teenagers and contributing to the psychological shaping of future generations.
This is not to say that men did not need a makeover from the machismo personas depicted over half a century ago.
Indeed the feminist movement, which exploded in the sixties, was rightly founded on the need to correct male injustice and wrongful domination, however the end result has gone far beyond a cry for equality and is now undermining the God-given uniqueness of both men and women.
Rather than encourage, nurture and prune positive male characteristics, society opted to completely strip men of their masculinity and attempt to rebuild them in an image moulded by wronged and wounded women.
When Betty Friedan launched “Feminine Mystique” in 1963 in the US, she tapped into a growing restlessness amongst western women.
Friedan’s main concern was based on the inability of women to enter the workforce on an equal footing to men, but the discontent she revealed was soon harnessed by others and the push for gender equality became, for some, a push for gender sameness.
In 1970 Kate Millett authored “Sexual Politics”, which is considered by some to be a cornerstone of feminist theory.
Millett linked several movements together to promote the idea that the differences between men and women originated, not from biology, but from societal expectations and prejudices.
In other words, other than physical anatomy males and females would, if raised accordingly, be emotionally, instinctively and psychologically identical.
And the reason this movement was able to gather such momentum and continues to shape society today is because it was fuelled by the inability or refusal of men to adequately fulfil their intended purpose.
Rather than becoming the God anointed leaders, protectors and providers within families and society, which had been foundational to Judeo/Christian nations, a growing number of men were increasingly allowing themselves to fall prey to selfish desires provided by a society flooded with sexual and material temptations.
This led to an increase of abuse toward women, through social domination, violence, abuse and abandonment. Inevitably, if men were not adequately fulfilling their anointing, then women had no choice but to take action.
Tragically men’s failures and women’s responses have led to the chaos we find ourselves in today, where both sexes are becoming increasingly blended and distinctions are often viewed as anomalies rather than unique gifts.
It is why groups such as “Stepping Up”, a US Christian Men’s movement, is fighting to reclaim the Godly anointing of males.
“It is time for men to wear the pants again”, is one of the ministry’s catchcries, as it attempts to distinguish and celebrate the gift of masculinity and to encourage it within a brotherhood of support.
Men must step up from the extended adolescence many have opted to hide in and embrace life with the courage, intent and responsibility that God has instilled within them, the group proclaims.
Rather than allowing oneself to be moulded by inadequate role models, they beseech men to recognise and strive to fulfil their masculinity – to embrace the understanding that they have been created as leaders, protectors and providers and must throw off the cloak of passivity and confusion that society has been smothering them with.
The call, however, is not to return to the unjust domination that has defined men in the past, but rather to live out their intended masculinity by imitating Jesus’s example of self-sacrifice and to embrace women with a servant heart of love.
“Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her…” (Eph 5:25).