Harry Gershman

WHY a panel discussion titled, The Myth of Masculinity? This was a puzzle to me. Surely masculinity and femininity are not myths. If we just took around us, we will see male and female human beings. This applies not only to the human race, but the whole animal kingdom, which attests to the evolutionary process that has culminated in the male and female species of all higher forms of life.

As we ponder further on the title we conclude that the main thrust of its meaning is that neither masculinity nor femininity as we understand it holistically is exclusively predetermined biologically and genetically. To do so is a myth. Other forces — such as the psychological and the cultural forces leave their imprint on the evolving personality too.

That is not to say that men and women are the same. It is hard to believe that woman's biological capacity to bear children and nurse them, to be subject to periodic menstruation has not left its imprint on her developing psyche. Perhaps it has contributed to woman's qualities of acceptance, passivity and preference for stability. Whereas man's biology has contributed to his innate propensity for penetration, activity, lust for adventure, novelty and competitiveness.

Having said this, however, one must hurry to add that in my opinion these biological differences play a minor role in the evolution of one's personality compared to the tremendous impact of the psychological and cultural influences of the infant. The psychological influences stem from the highly charged emotional relationship that exists between the infant and the significant people in its life; they usually are the parents and siblings — who are also carriers of the prevailing culture.

Culture is a dynamic interplay of evolving values reflecting the current state of civilization. Values prevalent among stone age people must of necessity be different from the more sophisticated cultures of highly industrial, competitive civilizations.

Living as we do in an age characterized b