Oh my G-d, Masculinity Killed Kenny

As I sat down to reflect on the violent image of masculinity society has developed, I decided to turn on the TV. Admittedly, my work ethic could have been a bit stronger, but it all worked out for the best. After flipping through a few channels I found an old episode of South Park on. On top of being really funny, South Park is perhaps the perfect critique of society; it truly takes an interesting look at society and opens up various levels of sociological debate, but that's an issue for another blog. Today, I found myself watching the episode where all the boys began their shop class and all the girls went to home-ec.....except for Kenny. While in shop class, the boys supported classical stereotypes of men. Kenny was a wuss because he was not taking shop, and during class they found themselves planning a school yard fight to see which boy, Tweek or Clyde, was tougher. Meanwhile, Kenny, who is prone to dying, did not see home-ec as an attack on his masculinity, but rather a chance for survival. However, South Park Elementary's version of home-ec is not exactly politically correct; it, like shop class, serves to bring out the most negative stereotypes about the female gender. Obviously Kenny does not fit in. Eventually, Kenny is kicked out and sent to shop class. Simultaneously, the school yard fight bursts into the shop room and the result is Kenny getting flung into a box of rusty nails by a saw.
While it seems like a pointless cartoon, in actuality it highlights the need within society to redefine the image of masculinity. As shown by the children in South Park, the current image of masculinity only leads to violence and pain. Even in a satirical manner this cry for a new image of masculinity is apparent.