Author: Daniel C

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, truculently is defined as aggressively self-assertive. In the reading “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston, the word appears on the first page in paragraph 7 as stated, “He picked up the whip and glared down at her. Delia went on with her work. She went out into the yard and returned with a galvanized tub and set it on the washbench. She saw that Sykes had kicked all of the clothes together again, and now stood in her way truculently, his whole manner hoping, praying, for an argument. But she walked calmly around him and commenced to re-sort the things”. Now knowing what this word means, the author is saying that Sykes stood in Delia’s way aggressively, in an authoritarian way in show of power over her.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, inquired is defined as to put a question: seek for information by questioning. In the reading “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, the word appears on page 154 as stated, “I suppose anything Mrs. Peters does’ll be all right?” the sheriff inquired. “She was to take in some clothes for her, you know–and a few little things. We left in such a hurry yesterday.” Now knowing what the word means, the sheriff was asking a question for more information.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, aggravating is defined as arousing displeasure, impatience, or anger. In the reading “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston, the word appears on page 272 in the sixth paragraph as stated “You sho is one aggravatin’ nigger woman!” he declared and stepped into the room. She resumed her work and did not answer him at once. “Ah done tole you time and again to keep them white folks’ clothes outa dis house.” Now knowing what this word means, Delia been getting on his nerves by refusing to listen to his orders and as a result, is often mistreated by her husband physically and mentally, by using the whip.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, deliberately is defined as characterized by or resulting from careful and thorough consideration. In the reading “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, the word appears at the top on the third page as stated “When he began this time, it was very deliberately and carefully”. Now knowing what the word means, the author is saying to the reader that they start to retell what exactly happened carefully in details.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, diligence is defined as steady, earnest, and energetic effort. In the reading “How to Raise a Feminist Son” by Claire Cain Miller, the word appears in the third paragraph as stated, “women’s roles can’t expand if men’s don’t, too. Men are falling behind in school and work because we are not raising boys to succeed in the new, pink economy. Skills like cooperation, empathy and diligence — often considered to be feminine — are increasingly valued in modern-day work and school, and jobs that require these skills are the fastest-growing”. Now knowing what the word means, the author is saying that most men fall behind in school and work because they are not raised to succeed in works that require steady, earnest, and energetic effort. In order for society to fully progress, men need to be able to express their emotions.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, denigrate is defined as to deny the importance or validity. In the reading “Teaching Men to Be Emotionally  Honest” by Andrew Reiner, the word appears in the sixth paragraph as stated, “Boys’ underperformance in school has more to do with society’s norms about masculinity than with anatomy, hormones or brain structure. In fact, boys involved in extracurricular cultural activities such as music, art, drama and foreign languages report higher levels of school engagement and get better grades than other boys. But these cultural activities are often denigrated as un-masculine by preadolescent and adolescent boys.” Now knowing what the word means, the author put this study by sociologists Thomas A. DiPrete and Claudia Buchmann, to convey the idea that young boys struggle to show their emotions and don’t get much involved extracurricular activities. And those that do get involved in extracurricular activities, tend to do better in school.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, proficient is defined as being well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge. In the reading “The Boys At The Back” by Christina Hoff Sommers, the word appears on the fourth paragraph as stated, “No previous study, to my knowledge, has demonstrated that the well-known gender gap in school grades begins so early and is almost entirely attributable to differences in behavior. The researchers found that teachers rated boys as less proficient even when the boys did just as well as the girls on tests of reading, math and science”. Now knowing what the word means, the author included this research finding to show the reader that teachers see “boys as less proficient even when the boys did just as well as the girls on tests of reading, math and science”, in support of the claim that “teachers of classes as early as kindergarten factor good behavior into grades — and girls, as a rule, comport themselves far better than boys”.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, dystopian or dystopia is defined as an imaginary place where people lead dehumanizing and often fearful lives. In the reading “Talking to Boys the Way We Talk to Girls” by Andrew Reiner, the word appears on the third page on the second paragraph as stated, “We tell ourselves we are preparing our sons to fight (literally and figuratively), to compete in a world and economy that’s brutish and callous. The sooner we can groom them for this dystopian future, the better off they’ll be”. Knowing what the word means, I can understand the reading better. The sooner they are talked out of this imaginary place that society has created, a society that seems to be dehumanizing boys, the sooner boys will begin to grow in an environment that wont negatively affect them.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, paternity is defined as granted to a father. While I was reading “A Master’s Degree in Masculinity” by Jessica Bennett, the word appears on the fifth page as stated “As partners and husbands,” Mr. Leek said. “Whether we do our fair share of housework and child care. Whether we opt to take paternity leave. (Even when companies offer paternity leave, research has shown that many men are reluctant to take it.)”. Now knowing what the word means, I can understand what the passage means in better detail. Men, parenting their children affects many aspects of their lives. Men see themselves as being tough and brave, and parenting is one of the many things some struggle with. Their relationship is “with other men”.