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“Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.”– Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
There is a growing sense of disrespect and discomfort within the realm of gender relations. Gender relations refer to the social, cultural, and economic interactions and power dynamics between people based on their gender identity. In other words, gender relations describe how
men and women relate to one another in society, and how those relationships are shaped by norms, roles, language, and access to resources. Unfortunately, the society has normalized this misandry. The ‘man up’ phraseology is problematic. The phrase becomes more of a problem
when used by women to describe men. Our culture has been rather permissive in facilitating a specific class of women to use the phraseology, “man up,” to describe the male of the species.
Such categories of women are usually those in positions of power and authority. These verbal attacks on men have been ongoing without impunity. The double standard in the construction of gender relations needs to stop. The interrogation of this harmful and spiteful phrase is damaging not only to men but also to women. It implies that courage, strength, emotional intelligence, resilience, or emotional control is inherently masculine traits, which is both unfair to men and exclusionary to everyone else. On the other hand, the phrase also implies that women are incapable of strength or resilience. The phrase “man up” is often used to belittle or emasculate men in situations of hierarchical power structures. Describing men with the phrase ‘man up’ is discriminatory and reinforces harmful stereotypes. It carries implicit assumptions about gender.
In a world where men are already under pressure, the ‘man up’ remark places additional pressure on men to suppress their vulnerability and discourage healthy emotional expression. The phrase is utterly dismissive. It minimizes the feelings of men and their struggles by suggesting they should simply toughen and move on. Many women who use this phrase, “man up” are themselves struggling with their sense of self. However, instead of being disrespectful, why not work on yourself?
Language and Culture
Language serves a dual purpose; it reflects and shapes culture. Think of language as the operating system of a society: it influences how people think, what they value, and even what they can imagine. Culture is transmitted through stories, proverbs, songs, and rituals, all of which rely on language. It is important that language relativity be highlighted in such a discourse. Language relativity is the theory that the structure of a language influences its speakers’ worldview, cognition, and how they perceive reality, time, and concepts. It ranges from strong linguistic determinism (language controls thought) to weaker versions (language influences or biases thought). Nobel Prize-winning American novelist, essayist, and professor Toni Morrison often viewed language as a powerful, dual-edged tool: it could be oppressive, censoring, and violent, or liberating and life-affirming, a way to measure our humanity by creating and describing the world, even beyond the limits of experience.
Language shapes culture and thought. When we move away from gendered idioms, we help dismantle stereotypes and create space for healthier, more inclusive expressions of strength and resilience.
Embracing a Culture of Respect
Phrases like, “man up” serve to normalize rigid gender roles and stigmatize emotional openness. Importantly, such phrases impact workplace dynamics, relationships, and even mental health outcomes. There ought to be more gender sensitive training in the workplace regarding the use of phrases with hidden biases. Such words can also negatively affect productivity levels in the workplace. We must be more careful regarding how we use language loaded with our gender and cultural biases.
Let us be purposeful concerning how we relate to each other. Let us be intentional as it relates to the pursuit of gender equality within the society. Gender equality is not a one-way pathway. May respect and dignity be the pillars of the new foundation for a progressive society. In the words of Toni Morrison, oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; does more than represent the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and/or gender issues.
[email protected]
@WayneCamo
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