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Chinese Boot Camp Turns Boys into “Alpha Males” to Fight Rise of K-Pop Culture

This story pisses me off.

Photo Source: https://www.88883250.com/thread-2309-1-1.html

Let’s start with the premise: “K-Pop Culture” is making boys less masculine. OK, sure. Because that’s a thing. Maybe in China it is. But music and fashion doesn’t “make” anyone anything. It doesn’t alter levels of masculinity. It may call some of those notions into question, just as it did in the 60s here in the States. Men with long hair! Oh noes!

Then the term “alpha males”. This is lauded by a surprising number of people. Presidential candidates are “alpha males”, and some are mocked for not being that — one right wing dig at Beto O’Rourke is Beta O’Dork. Clever. (Note: not that clever.)

The term comes from the animal kingdom. An alpha male is “the dominant male animal in a particular group” according to the Internet.

It’s right up there with “winning”. So much winning.

You would think that we have progressed as a society past outdated notions of masculinity. You would be wrong. Look at the current Democratic Presidential candidates. There are real discussions about whether or not “a woman can win”. Lots of men have lost! For fuck’s sake if the best candidate is a woman give her a chance. Hillary lost. All that means is that Hillary lost. It doesn’t mean a woman can’t win.

At some point, everybody can’t be the alpha. Someone has to do the work. I’m a big believer in roles. Sports metaphors for the win! Someone is the coach, someone is the quarterback, and someone is on the offensive line. When the offensive lineman decides he should be the quarterback, it all falls apart.

What about teaching kids to be good people? To be nice? Is there any room for that at Real Man Camp? I’m guessing no. It’s probably a lot of chest beating and playing football. Football I’m in favor of, although maybe not because of head injuries.

What message do camps like this send? That there is one way to be a man. That if you do not conform to these notions of what a man is you have less value as a person. How is that positive?

Source: Chinese Boot Camp Turns Boys into “Alpha Males” to Fight Rise of K-Pop Culture