Masculinity In The Deep South Summary

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Throughout the Deep South, manliness and honor defined the social status of the region. Each man had to live to the standards that the antiparty mentality proposed. Southern politics circulated the issue that political parties attracted those without a mind. Party supporters were mindless people who would follow the ideals of someone in a position of power, although no commonalities existed between commoner and politician. The southerners in Mississippi relied more on those in their community and shared beliefs. Men all around the Deep South were expected to do things a certain way and to fulfill the obligations of life. The code of honor, raging Masculinity, and the antiparty atmosphere made the state of Mississippi and the Deep South culturally and politically unique from the rest of the United States and …show more content…

The southern portion of the United States had a connection between the slaves and slave holders. Slaves stood as immensely important to the southern economy and the social structure. Depending on how many slaves a person had, and how much land they obtained, it assisted in determining their social ranking and their overall influence on the community. These aspects fueled the notion of masculinity, one of Olsen’s main points throughout the book. Olsen discusses the importance for the Mississippians to act tough, participate in a group, and to protect the ones that reside inside the inner circle. Men remained held at a different level than others, because they had additional responsibilities. They had to take care of the family, the community, their livelihood, and ensure that their social status remained secured. Masculinity held the most important trait of a candidate running for a political position. Mississippians saw