Giving the Yay
Society in America has undergone
various changes throughout the past century in many aspects. From woman being
able to vote to same sex marriages, diverse is a word that can definitely be
used to describe the melting pot of cultures and lifestyles that this country
has. However, there is a particular new phenomenon, as author Kay S. Hymowitz
would call it, sweeping male individuals between the ages of twenty and thirty.
This phenomenon is known as pre-adulthood. In, “Where Have the Good Men Gone?”
Hymowitz “argues that too many men living in their twenties are in a new kind
of extended adolescence” (wsj.com). At a glance, this article eloquently
expresses points that tug on the ethical and emotional appeal of the audience,
grabbing the attention of readers with such creativity would make this piece a
prime example of a well-constructed argument.
First and foremost the author of
this article definitely knew who they wanted to target in the audience. In the
title, “Where Have the Good Men Gone”, instantly one can grasp a somewhat of an
insulting gesture from some such a phrase. Being a male myself, I for once
disagreed with such a title. I believe that I would constitute as a “good man”
as may several other males that perhaps stumbled upon this article. Nonetheless,
the author here lays a foundation for the reader to begin brainstorming about
the context of the article. In addition, the various pictures that decorate the
surroundings of the article may suggest male inferiority to today’s woman. Most
of the men showcased all have hipster/grungy appearances not too appealing to
the eye, playing video games, and acting childish. Adjacent to these
photographs stands a woman dressed in business attire with a strong independent
look on her face. The difference in body language here demonstrates the levels
maturity in each person; a man’s silly face versus the stern look on the woman
next to him definitely adds to what the title already suggests.
As the reader begins to dive into
the context of the article, it is made evident that the information being
presented does not fully correlate to what is predicted in the first
impressions. For most of the introduction, there is a majority of pathetic and
attempted logical appeal; quotes from celebrity comedians and a few graphs
supporting the “negativity” that the title suggests. However, as one continues
to read the information presented is there to provide background to this idea
of “pre-adulthood”. In other words, Hymowitz breaks it down to being similar to
ones teenage years and how that uncertainty and self-consciousness that a
person feels is essentially what a male with characteristics of pre-adulthood
expresses. Not to be confused for any kind of medical disorder, this idea of
pre-adulthood is simply a psychological state that some males might experience
according to Hymowitz.
Attempting to strengthen her
argument, the author now turns to the logical side of things within the
article, stating that pre-adulthood exists in some men because of some
contributing personal factors. Referencing the professional life of a person
and the economic state in which this society is in now is how Hymowitz climaxes
her argument. With woman on the rise professionally and the social changes that
the male role has undergone in the past years, the author gives a more logical
appeal to this situation. “He has to compete in a fierce job market, but he
can't act too bossy or self-confident. He should be sensitive but not
paternalistic, smart but not cocky. To deepen his predicament, because he is
single, his advisers and confidants are generally undomesticated guys just like
him” (wsj.com). Social pressures, professional responsibilities, and personal
responsibilities are factors that Hymowitz believes to play a role in this
pre-adulthood situation. Logically this makes sense, life does often present
situations quite uncomforting to a person that can prove to be overwhelming to
the point in which one would much rather throw in the towel. This portion of
Hymowitz argument proves to be the most concrete as it appeals to audience on a
much more personal level giving it the chance for it be much more accepted.
In conclusion, the appeal made my
Hymowitz in “Where Have the Good Men Gone?” about the pre-adulthood state of a
man being a kind of epidemic that woman should try to understand instead of
complaining is definitely well constructed. By appealing to the audience both
emotionally and logically she constructs a valid argument in which one can
ponder and reach a reasonable conclusion or at least understand the point she
is trying to portray. The changing of times and roles in society are having an
effect on men and how they approach life not so much that all the “good men”
have disappeared from this Earth.
