Can someone explain in great detail what it means to be a man?

Question

how about just explain what it means to you. I am a woman and just want different guys perspectives for pete's sake, is that too much to ask?

It seems as though all of you men are these great honorable men, and I am sure some of you are, how about some honesty and some real answers, without a lot of detail, like your sex drive, or dealing with emotions, or work or the idea of stay at home moms/wives, how do you feel about some of these things?

Answer 1

This question has been exercising a group of friends and me for some time.
As with most things this depends on which culture and race you belong to. Most western cultures don't have a time or ritual that you can say now I am a man. And this is the way I should behave and this is what is expected of me.If we think about it they haven't had this for sometime. Now that women have so called equality, men don't even have that they are the bread winner to fall back on as a mark of manhood.

For me I am just me I do not need something which tells me that now I am a man. Like most people I will have situational behavior's. I enjoy observing the opposite sex. If I am with friends we might pass comments to each other. I am not particularly driven to seek out sex. But then I am older. In my teens I would jump anything with a womb that would let me. Not that this happened often.

I wasn't very good at dealing with emotions as a teenager. I have had to learn to do this. I was not taught by my father, He couldn't and still can't deal with emotion, other than anger, that is dealt with by getting angry back, it made for some very volatile shouting matches. I have learned that there are more emotions than anger. But I am now where able to deal with them as well as some females.

For me work doesn't identify who I am. I go to work to earn money so that I might support my family. Work is a means to an end. For many men the first thing that they ask is what do you do. This is also becoming more prevalent amongst women. If asked I will say something stupid or unreal. It is surprising the reactions that you get. There is more about me than what I do for a job.

I have worked hard so that my wife could stay at home and look after our child. I think that if you are going to have children it is important for one parent to be the main caregiver and to be at home with the children until they go to school. It is also important that someone is there when they return. Children are too important to leave to the care of others. It is difficult to be a sole income family. Motherhood and caring for a home and family needs to be better respected than it is in our society.

I also like the idea of being looked after, cherished and respected for being the provider. Not that I am!

Our society doesn't value men. It does everything that it can to separate us from things that are masculine. It is stopping us from being caring by labeling all of us pedophiles and rapists. It is giving women the right to treat us as cash cows and not allowing or enforcing our right to have a roll in the bringing up of our children.
I as a man don't feel valued by the society that I live in. I look around and I see other men who are just as lost.

Answer 2

A few years ago I read an interesting book, I think called Boys Into Men, or something similar.

It was a collection of interviews of men, different ages, on rites of passage, and what it means to be men.

It means to be an adult male; mature.

I don't know, but it seems to me that this whole "what it means to be a man" thing is a much bigger problem or struggle for men than for women. (I'm NOT a man, by the way, real or otherwise.)

You won't get consensus on the answer.

Many years ago I read an article that talked about 'macho' and said that Anglos profoundly mis-understood this concept.

Macho isn't about being a brute, but about taking care of one's family; being emotionally strong (as opposed to physically strong).

Several women talked about their mild, quiet fathers who were macho -- not blustery, but calmly, quietly doing what needed to be done for their wives and children, and the rest of their families.

Answer 3

For me this is what it means for me to be a Man:
1:To be able to respect myself for my reactions to the world around me.
2.To be able to be self sufficient to the extent that others can rely on me.
3.To be able to keep a clear head and direction especially during times of great adversity and during times of great reward.
4.To be able to stick through rough times and not run away from family when they need me,even when they make wrong choices that are harming us,but to be able to step back emotionally and see what is happening and guide us back to a course of action.
5.To be a friend,leader,guide to my loved ones.
6.To follow my dreams and help others to follow there dreams to the best of my ability
7.To reward myself with what I seek in life even if "Society" says that it is wrong,like taking a chance on being self-employed,having a beer at a Stripclub now and then,riding my Harley,or going out and buying my wife that brand new Mini Van for her and my child's safety when I am not sure if we can afford it and then find a way to afford it.
8.Be honest with my loved ones,if there is a need in a relationship and I need something,be honest with what I need to do
9.Stand up to my fears, physical,mental,emotional.Keep physically fit,do not cowar to bully's understanding that a punch in the nose or concussion will heal rather than daily
beratement,and stand up to the womanizing of the men in this country and be a Man...
10.to be a leader,or at least my own person and not a follower...

Answer 4

Hi Tajinaz

The only thing you can say about all "males" is that they have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.

(Some males have a second Y chromosome, but that's another story.)

As to what it means to be a "man" - that will depend a great deal on the values, etc. of the culture in which someone lives.

To answer that reading of your question would take at least one book to do it any kind of justice, and probably several.

Answer 5

-Stands up for what he believes
-Uses physical intimidation and aggression only as a very last resort, but is effective in using them if he must
-Respects women
-Respects elders
-Challenges his children, loved ones and friends to be better
-Makes an effort to be self-aware
-Has a penis

Answer 6

to be a man you need to not be afraid to take charge, show who you really are and have a great body.

Answer 7

stay on top of your game. get your own answers.