Personally I made a complaint to the Advertising Standards Bureau http://www.advertisingstandardsbureau.com.au/how_to_complain.html regards the Ford ad on the grounds that it tried to negatively stereotype the male gender (ie you can’t be a man unless you drive a Ford Turbo). That complaint was dismissed as nearly all complaints to the Advertising Standards Bureau are dismissed (ie 99%), but the advertising industry has much to answer for in it’s stereotyping of people, and I do feel that such stereotyping does have a negative affect on young people.

But I can remember singing in choirs at school, and singing in unison with others is a wonderful experience. It is also something that is very masculine for males, and it is good to know that there are boys in some schools who understand this as well.

Timkins, not very surprised that you submit complaints to the advertising industry about male stereotyping. Whatever stirs your pot, mate.

However, I was struck by your comment "It is also something that is very masculine for males" 'sfar I know singing is very human not specifically masculine. I do agree that boys should be encouraged more in singing, dancing in fact many skills that have a so called feminine image should be encouraged.

I think it is a shame that a popular insult is to be referred to as a girl - not helpful for the self esteem for either boys or girls.

I've got a male neighbour who sings a lot (mostly in Greek). I love it.

Most times I've sung in public I have needed to stop for the well being of those around me. Music teachers used to suggest that there were better things to do with my time than persue musical interests (something about timing, rythm and pitch - or a lack theroff).

I think the idea of encouraging people to sing is great. We might have a bit of work to do to get around the images of choir boys and choir masters in society.

Ambo,
I have also made complaints to various organisations regards “negative” stereotyping of males and females in advertising and in the media, (ie not just males, although there is presently much negative stereotyping of males), as well as being a member of an international human rights organisation for many years that investigated human rights abuses of men, women and children, and presently I sponsor a little girl in Sudan through http://www.plan-international.org/.

Does this help to satisfy your attempts to stereotype myself as being biased towards males.

The topic of the article was on boys and singing. I have lived in countries such as Portugal where men and boys singing is quite common and very much a part of the Portuguese traditional culture, and I agree with the principle that singing is a very masculine activity for males.

I also don’t have a problem with words such as masculine or feminine.

Timkins

we are all very relieved to hear that you don't have problems with the words 'masculine or feminine'.

Now, I am a girl (golly gosh) I sing in a band. According to you singing is masculine - so does this mean I'm butch?

I agree with Ambo that boys should be encouraged to sing, write, dance, play music or any of the finer arts. Definitions of masculine behaviour are soooo narrow. We would all benefit if masculine and feminine definitions were broadened to reflect the reality of human nature - that we posses the same talents and abilities to a lesser and greater extent as others.

Every child should be encouraged, regardless of sex.

Xena,
It does seem that if someone says anything positive about the male gender, or about masculinity, then there is immediate condemnation of that person. Funny how our society has evolved.

For males, singing is very masculine. For females, singing is very feminine (and BTW, I am presently listening to a Sarah McLachlan CD, if that helps you in your attempts to stereotype myself as someone who thinks female musicians or singers are “butch”).

But there does appear to be a problem with boys singing, and I would think that this is largely based on a notion that singing is not a masculine activity for males. As the author has pointed out (and in my travels I agree), this notion is based on our culture only, and not on physiology.

I think that the media in our culture does have a significant affect on our notions of who we are, and what we should be doing. Advertisements in the media are atrocious in stereotyping people, and something should be done about it. So perhaps you can also complain to organisations such as the Advertising Standards Bureau if there are ads suggesting that males should speak in a deep voice and drive a turbo diesel. Just talking about it on forums will not do much to change our media.