To the Editor,
As I opened the Sept. 5 issue of The Hustler, I was initially puzzled and intrigued by the title of Andrew Solomon’s article “Don’t let your beer emasculate you: Drink from a can or a mug.” As I continued reading, the content further puzzled me. Upon rumination, I am livid.
I was pleased to see two response articles in the Sept. 7 issue (“Manhood threatened by European style” and “Hustler drops standards with latest Solomon column”). Both of these articles were very well written and addressed two very important issues in Solomon’s article. However, I feel both of them danced around the central and most disturbing issue in the article. The sexism that runs rampant throughout his article isn’t even implicit.
How dare he define “masculine,” especially in the progressive atmosphere of a university in what is already the most progressive and historically non-sexist of all eras? The very idea that boundaries should be set on my masculinity is offensive to me as a man; that the container in which my beer is served somehow affects my status as a man is cretinous and antithetical to my personal value and moral systems.
The mindset motivating Solomon’s article is exactly what modern feminists (both males and females alike) are fighting against. The only purpose that spewing such regressive, sexist stereotypes could possibly serve is to perpetuate such stereotypes and expectations, leading to the further subjugation of males by normative societal conventions. It is frustrating to see this as a person trying so hard to tear down preconceived notions of what it means to be “masculine.”
Interestingly, Solomon says later in the article that “you should drink beer because you like it, not because you think it will impress people.” First of all, he here ignores the possibility that perhaps people enjoy Stella Artois. He denies the intelligent cognitive autonomy of individuals by simply assuming their decision was based solely on a self-conscious awareness of others’ perceptions of the individual. He is in effect stating that all opinions other than his are simultaneously wrong and not well thought out.
The quotation, more disturbingly, shows Solomon does not realize he is doing the same that he accuses Stella Artois of doing: namely, forcing people to be self-conscious in their choice of drink. He claims the only acceptable containers for beer are cans, bottles, Solo cups and glasses, deeming all others unacceptable and emasculating (his words are “you look like a pansy simply by sitting next to (beer not in one of these containers)"). He is trying to shame males into making choices based on others’ perceptions and not on personal preference, despite his claim to the contrary. I am outraged and embarrassed that such chauvinistic propaganda is coming from someone who shares my gender. I for one refuse to subscribe to his limiting, devaluing, sexist dogma.
Wade Wheatley
Sophomore, College of Arts and Science
