Although it will hardly be considered fitting for today’s society, I have been reading some of Mussolini’s thoughts on the subject of masculinity. He is interesting in that he took a traditional idea of manhood and then applied it to both philosophy and politics. In a sense, he believed in the model of a man who forcefully projects his own will onto the world around him, constantly strives to better himself physically and intellectualy, maintains a dominant yet paternal attitude towards those below him in station and a healthy respect for those above him, as well as an eagerness to go to war as an act showing such dominance and energy.
It is interesting that some of these ideas have a foundation in biblical and ancient Roman ideas (paternal attitudes, respect for authority), while other certain biblical ideas of masculinity are not compatible with the philosophy. For example, the idea that man is at his best when at the peak of physical and intellectual might is not really present in the bible. Rather, the bible seems to present the model of masculinity where the man is pious and always seeking out God, self-sacrificing, and humble. Similarly, Mussolini’s idea of a stoic emotional attitude is in contrast to the biblical attitude, which shows men who openly weep over anguish and losses.
I don’t have much to say about either attitude. Just contrasting them.
