The CCC Boy And The Changing Social Ideal Of Manliness

In his article "Building Better Men: The CCC Boy and the Changing Social Ideal of Manliness," Jeffrey Ryan Suzik discusses the ways in which the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) attempted and shaped the concept of masculinity to create the new ideal American man during the Great Depression era in America. The CCC was part of the New Deal Programs established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. This 'work-relief' program aimed to tackle the high levels of unemployment for men caused by the Great Depression. While the CCC's main objective was to overall improve the nation's infrastructure, they also address issues related to conservation, natural resource management, as well as aiming to rebuild and re-masculinize the nation's workforce

The program employed young, unmarried, and unemployed men between the ages of 18 and 25 who were chosen from relief rolls and sent to live and work in wooded camps. The CCC boys planted trees, built bridges, and fought forest fires. The program was born out of a societal concern about the uncertain occupational prospects of America's jobless male youth. Suzik argues that the CCC had a specific vision of the ideal American man, which was shaped by the social and cultural norms of the time. The program defined the ideal American man as physically fit, disciplined, and self-sufficient. In the program's early years, the ideal was heavily influenced by pacifism and anti-war The CCC saw itself as promoting a peaceful, non-militaristic vision of manhood, which emphasized financial independence, physical fitness, and technological proficiency. The CCC aimed to transform young men who were seen as wayward or at risk of becoming delinquent into disciplined and responsible members of society. The program's goal was to produce men who were considered both "rugged" and "refined." as the ideal CCC boy was one who endured hard work, enjoyed the outdoors as well as having a sense of duty and pride towards his country. The CCC also aimed to create a man who was well-educated and skilled in a trade or profession, thereby making him economically self-sufficient. The CCC’s definition of the ideal American man was based on a specific ideology that reflected the prevailing social ideals of the time. An ideal man would have to be physically and mentally strong as they needed to be smart, disciplined and motivated. He was someone who could work with his hands, endure physical labor, and contribute to society through his labor. This image of manhood was defined in opposition to the prevailing image of the unemployed, unproductive, and dependent man who was seen as a burden on