To what extent does Marilyn Lake's analysis of the 1890s apply to current constructions of Australian masculinity?

Essay by evilcandyUniversity, Bachelor's September 2004

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The following essay will discuss the question "To what extent does Marilyn Lake's analysis of the 1890s apply to current constructions of Australian masculinity?" Each competing idea/construction will be discussed and presented, and this question will be approached and supported with the appropriate supporting evidence and as this paper proposes that the answer is based on opinion, the use of some non-academic references will be included.

A suitable starting point for this question is to discuss the definitions of the relevant terms. Marilyn Lake has identified the 'lone hand' and the 'domestic man' as competing ideals/constructions of Australia masculinity in the 1890s. The 'lone hand' is a man's man. He lives for himself and by himself, and will die by himself. He is a loner, a stand alone, a man that would ride off into the sunset with his horse instead of "getting the girl". The lone hand is his own man, he doesn't take orders from anyone, and he lives by his rules.

The 'domestic man' on the other hand, is the stay at home type, content with having a wife and children. He will not ride off into the sunset with his horse, rather he will look over the fence at the horses who are going somewhere, but he'll have to stay in the paddock. The men that stayed at home expected a higher social ranking than that of those who left the home. The 'domestic man' is more of a ladies man, content to 'not get his hands dirty' as much as the 'lone hand'.

The question of the essay ponders if these two characteristics of men and masculinity still apply in today's society. Given the change in time and the ever changing multiculturalism in Australia, these ideals still exist. Although today, there are more than...