https://dailycrosswalk.com

  Imagine that you are watching a television show similar to To Tell the Truth. Several contestants try to convince you that they are the Real Man.  You have to guess which one is authentic and which ones are the imposters. Contestant #1 tell you he is the Real Man because he fills the traditional male role: he supports his family financially while his wife cares for the children and the home. As long as he provides a roof over their heads and food for them to eat, he's fulfilling his duty as a husband and father. This man doesn't consider his wife to be his true equal. Contestant #2 says he is the Real Man because he has a culturally progressive role: he shares household and child-rearing responsibilities with his wife while they both pursue careers. He thinks of his wife as his equal.

When I was a boy, my dad used to tell me that when he wasn’t around the house, I had to “be the man.” That sounded really important, so I loved it when he spoke those words. But things never really changed, I didn’t get to boss my Mom around. I didn’t get to make the rules. What my dad was really saying was, “Behave for your mother and watch out for your siblings.” The truth is that manhood is a lot more than just bossing somebody around. The world espoused some odd definitions of manhood like, “men get in touch with their sensitive side,” and “real men don’t eat quiche.” Hopefully, neither of these statements declare your manhood. So what do I mean by “Man Up?”