Jackson Katz explores the explicit displays of masculinity, or the lack thereof, and the impact they have on the success of a presidential candidate. Man Enough?: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and the Politics of Presidential Masculinity (Man Enough) illuminates the reality of non-policy campaigning during Presidential election years. Many academics have already discussed the significance of polling questions such as “How likely are you to have a beer with _____?” Katz, however, attempts to focus on a deeper level, by discussing how a candidate’s perceived masculinity impacts his or her popularity.
Whether it was intended or not, this book exposes the destructive cycle of prominent masculinity inside the doors of the oval office, presenting an opportunity to break it. The first step of destroying an evil is naming it. Man Enough claims that presidential politics within the US are an everlasting site for the cultural struggle of defining American manhood. Katz claims that during every election cycle the American people look to reinforce, or redefine in some cases, the epitome of what the American man is. Supported by historical fact and context, almost every President in the history of the United States has reflected the current culture. While gender is a topic that can be explored alongside a plethora of other topics, Katz focuses more on racism, a different and complex issue altogether, rather than solely on the topic of gender and masculinity. Also included as important topics are femininity and class. In order to properly explore each of these topics while only using historical context as evidence, Katz divulges in explaining the successes and failures of every presidential campaign and presidency since 1980. It is clear that Katz has brought quite a few complex issues into his argument, rather than just the topic of gender or masculinity. Linking a need to define masculinity and electing a symbolic face of the country is not a completed nuanced idea. Katz references other academic studies and texts in order to provide support for his arguments. Additionally, he puts each argument he makes into context historically, which is important for readers in a modern age who may not have been alive to experience the Reagan years onward first hand. Almost all of the evidence provided by Katz is qualitative rather than quantitative, which presents weakness in its own. The research cited within Man Enough is, in all quantifiable ways, supported as fact. Katz doesn’t risk his argument by using non-credible sources. Because it is well known that throughout history people support a candidate that they either want to be or want to be with, Katz also relies on things that are considered “common knowledge” as evidence throughout Man Enough.
However, Katz evolves to rely too heavily on the reader’s deduction skills. While Man Enough does present an argument and lay out evidence, it neglects to outline the support for any conclusion. Most interpretation of the evidence is left to the reader. The frame of almost every section of this book mirrors this structure. Katz chronicles an event that significantly affects one of the players from the time period in question. Following this, the existing research and interpretation of this event is laid out. Most of the evidence Katz relies on is found here. After successfully telling the reader what happened and what the outcome was, Katz then explains the lack of research regarding how masculinity played into this event.
Where Man Enough falls short, however, is in the conclusions Katz draws. Katz’s arguments and conclusions lack structure, due to the fact that he is relying heavily on the reader’s skill to understand the subtext of his writing. Additionally, Katz neglects to address rebuttals for the claims he makes. The reader is left with no alternative but to take Katz at his word. Furthermore, the book does not reach a full circle regarding its thesis. While Katz suggests that the importance of a specific lens of manhood is subtly prominent in Presidential proceedings, he does not discuss the implications nor how this truly makes an impact on our world. Rather, Man Enough outlines a premise many Americans know far too well: Presidential campaigns have more to do with likeability than qualifications.
Man Enough should not be rejected due to Katz’s inability to present a clear argument and conclusion. What Katz presents in this book should be used as a basis for the educated reader to recognize the true significance of masculinity within the politics of the Presidency. As more and more Presidents are elected as a face rather than a voice of this country, the periods between elections have begun to repeat themselves. The first year of a President’s term often shows America with a combined sense of disappointment (from those who voted for the losing candidate), and encouragement and hope (from those who supported the new President). As the years go by, Americans become increasingly upset with the state of the White House. Voters demand change and a new kind of President. Man Enough subtly suggests reasoning for this. The winning candidate more often than not must win the white, cis, straight, male vote. In order to complete that task, the candidate is forced to appear “tough on crime,” “tough on foreign policy,” and the likes. This demeanor of traditional manhood then supports similar policy pushes every election cycle, often in a new light, yet always the same at its core. Katz does not explicitly state that this cycle is detrimental to America and needs to be broken, however his insights make a suggestion for fixing America’s flawed election atmosphere. The issues that the male voter presumes “toughness” will solve will only be solved when a candidate can win the white male vote without implementing these flawed and repeated policies.
What I find most relatable in this book to our class discussions is not the mentions of gender but rather the words on race. Certain sections of this book, including but not limited to, Willie Horton and Ronald Reagan illuminate an interesting atmosphere within America towards racism. Katz seems to almost skip over the significance of his thoughts but should not be lost on the educated reader. As America looks at their ideal man, the casting down of African Americans for the progression of White Americans is seen as a positive attribute. Reagan was feared, or more so admired, as the toughest man after shouting at a black woman in New York. The idea of Willie Horton is revealed as the ultimate fear of the suburban (white) mom and Dukakis let him out of prison where he belonged. America jumped on these ideas without recognizing the impact of reiterating stereotypes. Katz does serious work for the conversation of the racist President, almost more so than he does for the masculine President.
This book should probably be taken without its title nor premise in mind. Katz has collected a very successful compilation of examples of masculinity and its effects on Presidential campaigns. The issue most present throughout Man Enough is that Katz does not work to further expand his ideas. The example of Mike Dukakis and the tank ad could have many interpretations, none of which Katz discusses. A saying used most by medical practitioners works best here, “when you hear hoofbeats, assume horses not zebras.” In reality, Dukakis looked unsure, unattractive and out of place. Katz argues that men in America look for an alpha male, a man they want to be, in the President. Dukakis’ less than desirable appearance/stature is why, he argues, that Dukakis didn’t win the vote. What seems more plausible, however, is that Dukakis’ obvious misplacement in a military setting and the shadowing attack ad left voters unsure he could professionally be the commander in chief.
For the reason that Katz cannot make his thesis significant nor connect it full circle to all of his examples and arguments, Man Enough is unsuccessful and leaves an unfinished feeling with his readers. Had Katz taken the time to find real implications and serious reality setting with this book, it would have been far more successful. As it stands, Man Enough is 273 pages of American history with little to no new insight. rity50 \lsd
Patience Baldacci 