Final answer:
To maintain a 'manly' front, individuals may feel pressure to conform to societal expectations of masculinity. These expectations can vary across different cultures and time periods. However, it is important to note that maintaining a 'manly' front should not limit individuals from being their true and authentic selves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maintaining a Manly Front
To maintain a 'manly' front, individuals may feel pressure to conform to societal expectations of masculinity. These expectations can vary across different cultures and time periods.
For example, in nineteenth-century society, manliness was often associated with paternal duty and provider roles. Insults suggesting effeminate traits were considered the worst insults for men during this time.
Throughout history, the concept of masculinity has evolved, and today there is a recognition that gender is not simply ascribed at birth but presented as a lifelong project that men must constantly work to achieve. This struggle for masculine identity can start in childhood and intensify during adolescence, as individuals learn societal norms of what it means to be 'manly.'
However, it is important to note that maintaining a 'manly' front should not limit individuals from being their true and authentic selves. Gender norms and expectations can be harmful and restrict people from expressing their full range of emotions and identities. It is important for individuals to define their own masculinity and reject harmful stereotypes.