In the latest attempt to deal with what academics and news call a “masculinity crisis”, the Education Ministry has proposed emphasizing the “spirit of yang”, or male qualities, by hiring more sports instructors and redesigning P.E. classes in schools.
Some social media users expressed support for the proposal, with one writing, “It’s hard to imagine such womanly boys can defend their country when an outside attack happens.” But others saw evidence of sexual discrimination and gender stereotypes (刻板印象).
Even state news media CCTV wrote on its Weibo account: “Education is not simply about cultivating ‘men’ and ‘women’. Strong inner qualities come first.”
CCTV also offered a general understanding of yang, writing, “Men show ‘the spirit of yang’ in manners, spirit and body shape, which is a kind of beauty, but ‘the spirit of yang’ does not simply mean ‘masculine’ (男性的) behavior.’ It should focus on a willingness of taking responsibility”.
The proposal was first made by Si Zefu, a deputy minister. He proposed that “many, many more” men should be hired as P.E. teachers to power a “masculine influence” in schools.
Mr. Si said the commonness of female teachers in schools and the popularity of “pretty boys” or “little fresh meat” had made boys “weak, fearful and shy,” adding that boys no longer wanted to become war heroes, warning that such a trend could endanger the Chinese people.
While the proposal did not include different treatment for boys and girls, educators like Liu Wenli, a professor at Beijing Normal University, see some risks. She said that even the reference “feminization of male youths” in the proposal could lead to more bullying of students because of their gender expression.
“Educators cannot call for the prevention of bullying in schools while developing the soil for bullying in schools,” she wrote on Weibo.
【小题1】What does “masculinity crisis” refer to in the text?| A．The more bullying of boy students. |
| B．The lack of professional physical instructors. |
| C．The trend of womanly features shown in boys. |
| D．The sexual discrimination and gender stereotypes. |
| A．The beauty of manners. |
| B．The typical male image. |
| C．The quality of being responsible. |
| D．The expectations to be a P.E teacher. |
| A．treat boys and girls differently |
| B．prevent the school bullying |
| C．try to understand womanly boys |
| D．employ more male P.E. teachers |
| A．Concerned. | B．Approving. | C．Neutral. | D．Ambiguous. |
