Rhetorical Analysis #3

               The Death of Macho by Reihan Salam is an appealing article that discusses the many past and present trends in the economy that point towards a general shift in gender power. Salam argues that these trends are causing a depreciating value of male power with an uprising in female’s favor. Based on the current recession crisis, men are being affected more than women and, according to Salam, this recession is now titled by many as the “he-cession”. “More than 80 percent of job losses in the United States since November have fallen on men, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics” (630). Salam points out the major declination of the male role in the working class and its impact on the potential power shift that is on the rise.  Salam compares this major decline to male economic sectors (construction and heavy manufacturing) to the very minor decline which women see impacted on their economic sectors (public-sector employment, healthcare, and education).

            Salam effectively uses cause and effect to paint pictures of how machoism is feeding the ongoing decline and its major impact on economy and more importantly the home and work places. Much change is to be expected in both the workplace and home in which men may not be the ones bringing home the bread anymore or the heads of work forces. According to Salam men are also falling behind in acquiring the education which is necessary for success in our knowledge based economy and “Soon, there will be three female college graduates for every two males in the United States…” (630). With women rising in the education department and affirming their economic work triumphs, they are placing a firm grasp on their inevitable claim of power.

            The decline of macho is painting a route for our future and that route is leading towards the gender shifting of power. With the female population growing both in size and stature, we as a country and culture should be prepared for apparent change. Macho has been the key culprit in many areas of decline and failure in the economic and governmental worlds and this apparent transfer of power may be the key to fixing our downfall. The female rise to power may seem skewed but the outcome may not be so bad. I guess we will all have to wait and find out and see which way things take us.