I was an idiot and forgot to post this Wednesday. If you don’t mark it I understand.
The abolition of purchasing military commissions in 1870 marked the slow emergence of the idea that a British officer could advance his career by his qualifications, rather than his pedigree [1]. Thus began a new era in the military, where young men were encouraged to stand out for promotion based on their skills and characteristics. This, toppled with the state of military veterans in the first world war, called into question the traditional notions of manliness [2]. It is apparent that the first world war had a profound effect on the concept of Western Masculinity; causing the military to encourage soldiers experiencing shell shock to return to the battlefield by creating the American ideal of a tough and brave man, and slowly replacing the old ways of chivalry [3].
However, this sort of trend had been rising in Canada for a good many years. Confrontational sports, such as boxing, where it was necessary for men to dominate their opponents through force and violence, had become an integral part of canadian culture [4]. These sports were consistent with ideals of manhood, expected to promote patriotism, character, morality, and manliness [5]. Other pastimes, such as cycling, also fit into this category. Cycling was common for upper middle-class men, who could not only afford a bike, but also meet the physical demands of the high-wheeler [6]. Cycling competitions were used to establish a social hierarchy amongst riders, and adhered to the old ways of honor with physical and moral integrity, just like boxing [7].
By the time the first world war came around, most aspects of young men’s lives were oriented towards the military, including sports organizations who promoted it heavily [8].
[1]HAYES, GEOFFREY, and KIRK W. GOODLET. 2014. “Exploring Masculinity in the Canadian Army Officer Corps, 1939-45.” Journal Of Canadian Studies 48, no. 2: 42.
[2]ibid
[3]Kossuth and Walmsley, “Cycles of Manhood: Pedaling Respectability in Ontario’s Forest City,” Sport History Review, 34 (2003): 173.
[4]Kossuth and Walmsley, “Cycles of Manhood: Pedaling Respectability in Ontario’s Forest City,” Sport History Review, 34 (2003): 176.
[5]Kossuth and Walmsley, “Cycles of Manhood: Pedaling Respectability in Ontario’s Forest City,” Sport History Review, 34 (2003): 170.
[6]Walmsley and Whitson, “Celebrating Violent Masculinities: The Boxing Death of Luther McCarty,” Journal of Sport History, 25, 3 (Fall, 1998): 420.
[7]ibid
[8]Walmsley and Whitson, “Celebrating Violent Masculinities: The Boxing Death of Luther McCarty,” Journal of Sport History, 25, 3 (Fall, 1998): 421.
