what's a "real man"

[Earl Grey]

A real man... is... a man.

There's no single way to be one. If you are a man, you are a man. The logic is that braindead but few follow through.


Numerous times as well I have pointed out the incredible irony of men trying to be "real men" according to what people think is a real man. That goes against one of its own standards; that a "real man" be confident, assertive, sure of himself, decisive. The system defeats itself in its inconsistency, yet people ignore the glaring contradiction. "I am a real man because other people say so," - sounds a bit pathetic, doesn't it? People who say otherwise are insecure themselves.

Set your own standards. Impose your own rules. Make your own choices and inhabit them.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Pionart]

I'm a real hero, not a real man.

 

[Saturnal Snowqueen]

This phrase makes me cringe so much, being a "real man" or saying, "be a man". Telling people to toughen up, when men are more likely to commit suicide, is just such an asshole move. Society has moved it to the point that being a man in this context means owning up to your mistakes, or treating women with respect. And while those are all find and dandy, it's just a cop out answer. Like that's literally all you can come up with? Some jab at their gender? What does that have to do with anything? Real man? No such thing in my opinion, we just need to be human. Sadly though, even with all these "archetypes" of men(jocks, hunters, nerd), etc, there's still certain pressures, like being a sexual beast for instance, or being emotionally flat. None of these are necessary, and none of these make you a man-being a man is just what you make it, fellas.