That men prove their manhood in the eyes of other men is both a consequence of sexism and one of its chief props. "Women have, in men's minds, such a low place on the social ladder of this country that it's useless to define yourself in terms of a woman," noted playwright David Mamet. "What men need is men's approval." Women become a kind of currency that men use to improve their ranking on the masculine social scale.
In Michael S. Kimmel's "The Gender of Desire," he argues that men's perception of their masculinity is often tied to the approval of other men, revealing a deeper issue of sexism. According to David Mamet, the status of women in society is so low that men find it inadequate to define their identities through women. This dynamic indicates that men's validation comes primarily from their peers rather than the women around them.
The relationship between men and women is further complicated by the idea that women serve as a form of currency for men, helping to elevate their social standing among fellow men. This transactional view reinforces the notion that men must demonstrate their masculinity in ways that please other men, thus perpetuating the cycle of sexism and the subordination of women. In this framework, women are dehumanized and reduced to means for men's status enhancement.
