In a recent interview with The Guardian to promote his new album, Manslaughter, rapper Ice T made some very bold statements about manhood and masculinity. The “pussyfication” of men, as he calls it. He says it has nothing to do with homosexuality, but in his opinion men have become softer.
Here’s the relevant excerpt of the interview:
What’s the lyrical agenda on Manslaughter? You declare that “manhood’s dead” …
I think right now you’re dealing with the pussyfication of the male sex. Men are just being so passive, not standing for something; they’re very politically correct. This has nothing to do with the gay male. The gay male is gay and I have no problem with that. Men are just soft. It’s OK to say you want to be a woman, but try to be a man and there’s something wrong with that.
Are women toughening up as a result?
Well, women want the position. One of my buddies told me, “For you to be a man, a bitch has definitely taken a position.” If you’re with your girl and you’re like, “Where should we park? I don’t know …”, she’ll be like, “Park here!”
So the weakness of men has allowed women to grow stronger?
Not necessarily. They were going to grow stronger anyway because women want power. But at the same time they’ve made men feel very uncomfortable about speaking about their feelings.
Looking past who the messenger is, what are your thoughts? Agree, Disagree or somewhere in-between?
I disagree with Ice-T. While I think theyre are a lot of passive men, the majority of us are still assertive and about our business. The problem is society trying to either criminalize black men or make us soft. And honestly I dont know if women want the power, they just want a man who has power and respects them. My sister always says “I want a man to treat me as an equal person but ultimately he still needs to be a man!”. Growing up my stepfather always asked my mother’s opinion bult it always came down to his decision at the end of the day. I think most BLACK men still operate like that.
I too don’t think women necessarily want “POWER” or control, they just want to be considered and respected. Power has always been a male ego and machismo driven concept anyway. I see nothing wrong with a woman saying park here if the man (who’s driving the car) didn’t make a decison. That doesn’t mean she’s on a quest to be dominant in the relationship. Relationships work best when there’s interdependence anyway, so everyone will have his or her own voice and occasional dominance.
If you ask me, what’s wrong with society isn’t the “pussyfication” of the man, but rather, the idea that there’s something inherently wrong or “less” in having a “pussy” to begin with. The word “pussyfication” only means something in a world where misogyny is still relevant. And the truth is that even in the gay community, there’s still a lot of misogyny going on. That’s why some men are terrified at the prospect of bottoming, because they think that it somehow violates their “status” as a man.
Society needs to grow up and evolve. Some men are passive because that’s their personality. Some women are aggressive because that’s *their* personality. Why can’t we just let people do them, and celebrate the uniqueness that we individually bring to the table? The idea of cookie-cutter men and cookie-cutter women should be a thing of the past; and for the life of me, I can’t understand why gay men, if no one else, haven’t evolved past that antiquated thinking.
It makes a man no less a man to be passive, than it makes a black person any less a black person to be educated, to speak proper English, and to not be interested in football or basketball. I swear, sometimes I think we still live in 1850.
Where is the “do you” generation?
APPLAUSE!
I would say men aren’t so hypermasculine anymore. The whole concept of manhood and masculinity are VERY dogmatic. Nothing against them, but they’re quite rigid. Just because people aren’t conforming to old gender roles anymore doesn’t mean manhood is dead. Just because men aren’t as aggressive doesn’t mean that men are being “pussified”. That statement there shows his disregard for femininity. Manhood is subjective as well.
Idk..I think he is trying to get heterosexual men to step they game up and get back in the drivers seat in their relationships.
I don’t get what Ice T’s saying here. Just because a man isn’t thug hard, bustin’ muthafukkas in the mouth, and saying “F*** the police!” they’re pussified or not manly?! They don’t stand for nothing? Is he referring to a certain racial demographic of men in the U.S.A.? Blacks? Other men around the world still exert dominance and are very aggressive so he’s making a generalization. If he’s referring to the ruggedness of this generation of African American males, I would say that it’s not fair to take away someone’s masculinity based on…for example, fashion. What you wear does not dictate your masculinity or your ability to be aggressive. In some parts of the world men wear next to nothing, but will kill a dude quick and will defend their families at all costs. Just ’cause a guy has on slim fitted jeans (or a leather kilt) doesnt mean he’s less masculine than a guy with timbs and a fitted cap. Expressing masculinity or manhood doesn’t have to be a physical persona. It’s more of a mind set, and besides everyone has different reactionary methods. For lack of a better term, having nigga moments isn’t the way to go all the time. I’m sure many years ago some people thought MLK Jr. was pussified too for being passive. This is funny though, coming from a fair skinned man, with light eyes, and perm who’s named after a sweet beverage you sip on a hot Georgia day. Also, just because you’re gay or like men doesn’t mean you want to be a woman. His perception on things is BS!
No comment…No Shade
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Not even a little? Lol
Hmmm….you can’t help the colour of your skin or your eyes….I don’t get that? Unless you are saying he is bleaching and wearing contacts?
But nevertheless I agree with your premise that he is rather fey but not with the examples you have given.
What’s up John. I was commenting on his looks because some people would say that him being light skinned with light eyes, and having a ponytail can come off as pretty or soft. Which is a perception based on his physical expressions. If he ran in the circles of black guys (of various complexions, etc.) back in the day, I’m sure at times he was thought of as sorta soft or pussyfied just because of his looks, speech, and style. Now if he hung around Latinos I’m sure his manhood would have been thought of much less because complexion, eye color, and hair texture/style is less of a masculinity issue due to the diversity of Latinidad. Usually black/mixed men with lighter complexions and/or light color eyes are perceived as having a beautiful (not handsome) factor in black culture. Beauty and masculinity aren’t usually associated together. It’s associated more with femininity. I wasn’t trying to make an issue about his or anyone else’s complexion and eye color, but more so touch on how his appearance doesn’t yell masculinity. I recall years ago either seeing or reading an interview where he stated that some people were like “who’s this sweet nigga” in the beginning of his career. So he should understand the plight of having your manhood misunderstood and falsely represented. But I think I need to hear a few tracks from his album to see what areas he feels manhood and masculinity are lacking. I’m really making assumptions off of 2 sentences. He didn’t really have an in depth talk.
I don’t think things have really changed. The straight men I know are players and the women they know seem to fall in line with what ever they want. I guess I don’t know the full picture to make a thoughtful statement on the topic.
Has anyone seen his show??!! Him and his wife are such caricatures of what men and women behave that is seems really, really fake.
In fact, he seems really passive…
LMAO….and what about that high voice of his??
Yes I agree with the first paragraph in his response.
My first question is, why does he have an album coming out?
But, I kinda feel him..but I think it’s more about the fact that everyone is trying to be more PC..it’s not just str8 men
I feel like this can be construed as critique of the very real rape culture debate that is happening in feminist and academic and to some extent mainstream media circles. The type of maleness that Ice T is saying has become pussyified is a result of power shifts and rethinking male dominance in a world where misogyny and patriarchy and homophobia are prevalent. I don’t see a pussyification of men but an evolution of what being a man means today in 2014.
Good point, @tgvirgo. This is coming from a dude that spent half of his career in a perm and curls. And when the south and the west started to become more prominent within the realm of hip-hop in the late 1980s, a lot of their hairstyles and fashion sense were considered “sus” as well (remember Dr. Dre in his sequin blazer?).
And now that his generation transcended all the ridicule and side eyes, eventually adding to the transformation of hip-hop culture…they’re hating on subsequent generations of artists who are trying to change the face of hip-hop by adding their own flair…JUST LIKE THEY DID 25 YEARS PRIOR!! HAHA!
I know this isn’t specifically what he was addressing in this piece, but it I’m sure it’s an extension of his argument. When it comes to the concept of masculinity, I don’t think much has really changed. If I closed my eyes while listening to him argue his points, I would probably think I was talking to a pimp. I don’t see much merit in his argument. Just talking loud and saying nothing.
Dude needs to be more specific. I would say women are becoming more beasty tho. Especially black women. The majority of them seem more domineering and carry themselves in a very unlady like manner.
I see women like that ALL THE TIME! It amazes me!
I would have to agree. However is he talking about the “average” type of male or the metrosexuals?
My issue with what he’s said is as if there is a set way a man is suppose to be and act and he is full authority of that. A man is a MAN because of the sex organ between his legs. Period. How the soul chooses to express itself through that vessel goes beyond our petty definition of a man. We are experiencing the evolution of a species in real time and we are discovering what we thought about ourselves cannot even be fathomed. Shut up and experience some shit.
Silly muhfukkaz…this lil henz peck goin on. THIS is what he’s referrin to. 😌 What y’all doin right now! We’ll, Lol I’m 8 years late. Man up, what he say u shouldn’t take to heart. Keep it pushin.