I have written topics regarding masculinity in the past, mind you those were based solely on my limited knowledge about the theme, nothing of it came originally from me and most of it are just my opinions with regards to existing literature about the subject.
Ones again please, take everything with a grain of salt.
What makes a man masculine? is a multi-faceted concept and a question that will spawn different answers. It can vary significantly across different cultures and nations however several common themes often emerge, here are some of them:
Physical attributes, strength, fitness and appearance.
Psychological attributes, drive, aggression, ambition and logic.
Behavioral traits, confidence, Stoicism, self-reliance and independence.
Roles and responsibilities, protector, provider, leader.
The list above provides a very brief overview of the traits and roles typically associated with masculinity. However, it is equally important to acknowledge the dynamic similarities and differences that exist within these concepts. Let’s take a look at how ancient classics convey to us how Masculinity can be viewed in many different ways.
In Greek and Celtic literature, numerous poems and epic novels like the Iliad and Odyssey have been written to provide context for historical events. Mythical figures, such as gods and deities, are depicted not as fairy tale characters but as real beings of the past. Their powers and abilities are portrayed as physical manifestations of the legends that surround them and unknowingly the poets and novelists of ancient times have painted a picture of what a masculine being looks like.
“Alexander the Great was said to have kept a special edition of the epic poem Iliad (prepared by his tutor Aristotle) under his pillow during his conquests and he’d read from it often. For Alexander, Achilles was Andreia (fortitude/courage) incarnate, and so the young king patterned his life after him.” Brett McKay
The Hero vs The King
Achilles is portrayed as the quintessential warrior, representing physical strength, prowess in battle, and an unbeatable fighting spirit. Achilles is fueled by his quest for glory and honor on the battlefield. His masculinity is defined by his warrior status, his invincibility (except for his heel), and his unwavering determination to achieve greatness in combat.
In contrast, Hector is depicted as a protector, embodying not only martial courage but also qualities of compassion, duty, and familial love. He is a devoted husband, father, and son, and his actions are often motivated by his concern for his family and his city. Hector’s masculinity is not solely defined by his prowess in battle, although he is a skilled warrior; rather, it is also shaped by his sense of responsibility and his role as a protector of his people.
Both Achilles and Hector represent masculinity in their own ways however contrasting ideals of masculinity is also apparent within the two. Achilles embodies the archetype of the warrior hero, driven by personal glory and Hector embodies the ideals of duty, honor, and devotion to family.
The Warrior vs The Lover
Cu Chulainn: Known for his ferocity and prowess in battle, Cu Chulainn’s masculinity is strongly associated with his fearsome reputation as a warrior. He engages in combat with numerous opponents and is revered for his unmatched strength and skill on the battlefield.
Diarmuid: While also a skilled warrior, Diarmuid’s masculinity is characterized by his charm and strategic prowess. Unlike Cu Chulainn’s berserker rage, Diarmuid relies on his cunning and quick thinking to outmaneuver his adversaries. His reputation is shaped not only by his martial abilities but also by his magnetic personality and romantic escapades.
Both Cu Chulainn and Diarmuid of the Love Spot are celebrated figures in Irish mythology, they embody different aspects of masculinity. Cu Chulainn’s masculinity is primarily defined by his prowess in battle and adherence to codes of honor, while Diarmuid’s masculinity is characterized by his charm, romantic bravery, and loyalty to love.
These four idealized different types of masculinity but as you peel them dearly, you will see similarities and contrasts that definitely complement each other, and it goes to say that masculinity is not really a set standard. It comes in different shades and forms. However nowadays we do not fight with swords to profess our love nor spears to achieve glory, our fights are merely the heavy weight of paying our bills, taxes and getting through the toxic stress of politics, religion and work.
Aside from the isolated wars happening in different parts of the world, most wars happen within ourselves whether that be motivation, finances, career or relationships, in addition to that there is not much reason for hunting or gathering food anymore, we get our produce from supermarkets and meats from the butcher. Since we don’t have to fight for emancipation, we instead found jobs to earn us our own form of freedom, the primal necessity for hunting and gathering has faded away therefore hunting and gardening became just a past time.
As people had more free time and disposable income, they began to pursue activities for personal enjoyment rather than solely for economic necessity. We needed to direct our energy and angst into different activities hence the birth of hobbies began.
The concept of hobbies, began to emerge in the 18th century during the Industrial Revolution in Europe. With the growth of urbanization and the expansion of education, people had more opportunities to explore and engage in various interests outside of work or family obligations. Hobbies provided a way for individuals to express creativity, pursue personal interests, and socialize with others who shared similar passions.
This is now a good segway to talk about hobbies and past times to keep the body and mind sharp, as men we need to direct our energy into more stimulating endeavors, if we remain the same are we really getting better, if we are not looking to improve ourselves or explore our creativity, our talents then are we really maximizing our capabilities? If we are not doing so, the most common criteria for masculinity we mentioned above states that that, is not manly at all.
Men are physically fit, ambitious, creative and are always looking to explore their capabilities, here are some stories I’d like to share:
A good friend of mine Daryl is a career tradesman, as we all know not everybody has the genius to become a very good tradesman, he specializes in the realm of metals and ironworks, the demand of this work on a human’s body is as equally as taxing as those who does construction and or any other hard labor, I would know because I worked with Daryl back when we were teenagers, I also was an Ironworker, and the physical beating we would get back in the day was no joke. However, as I moved on with my life, he elected to stay in the line of ironworks. Daryl’s work ethic is to be admired, and his tenacity is unmatched, I reconnected with my old friend because I learned that other than his job as an ironworker and most importantly a Father, he finds time to tap into his creative side paired with his ability to create something out of nothing, he has found a way to transfer his energy by beautifully crafting some of the most exquisite fishing flys you can collect. I ordered 3 of his works, 2 of those I poached out of his already made crafts and one was made to order especially for me, I got these as a retirement present to one of my co-workers who has a knack for obscure and interesting things, he loved it and said it was one of the coolest gifts he have ever received. It is especially beautiful that Daryl despite his time constricted life as a full-time journeyman, and a father finds time to create something and unknowingly make an old man he never even met excited and inspired. Check him out here: @snag_cty.flyfishing • on Instagram
Pavel, another friend of mine who I reconnected recently have a piece to tell. Me and Pavel basically keep in touch, but only through social media, he is as busy as me if not even more, most of the things I do are not career related rather for personal development, but Pavel manages a research laboratory, while at the same time a part time Actor and a product ambassador all of these whilst maintaining a schedule for his sport, CrossFit about 5x a week. Despite all that he regularly taps into his creativity and steps into the process of music production and song writing, additionally he does open mics and shows here and there. We recently caught up with each other and he reminded me something he had said about 10 years ago, he said that everything he is doing is just plan B to his plan A, his real end game is to be able to create music and songs and make that his career, it is great to learn that he still did not forget what he really wants in life despite the difficulty getting there. Check Pavel’s work here
Beware of the ungrateful, who are you doing it for?
“There are at least 4 types of wealth:
- Financial wealth (money)
- Social wealth (status)
- Time wealth (freedom)
- Physical wealth (health)
Be wary of jobs that lure you in with 1 and 2, but rob you of 3 and 4.”
To be committed to ones chosen career is very admirable, it is indeed a very manly thing to go to work no matter how hard it is, and no matter the situation people depend on you, so work shouldn’t be a reason to complain about, rather, it should be a part of life, beware however of the danger that comes with dedicating too much time to work and to the things that don’t matter. Working overtime means more dollars coming in and it creates an unseen and unspoken equity towards you and your employers, if your bosses are good, you might get a reward for working hard and hopefully they will remember how hard you actually worked, in spite of that, the ones who really will remember you worked overtime and weren’t home for dinner will be your kids and your wife.
My coworker retired a month ago, for his retirement, I got him 3 handmade collector flys from my friend Daryl, this costed me $150, a friendly price indeed.
I have been partnered with Garry for most of my tenure with the government, this man probably took 5 sick days in a year, he came to work religiously while suffering from heart ailments, and diabetic conditions, he would come down to work for overtime whenever he is called upon, the weather condition would not even matter. One time he parked his car on the side of the road for a flood to settle, and slept in his car for the storm to calm down, he drove to work while having stones pass through his kidney and I didn’t even mention that this man drives an hour and 45 mins or 110 km every day, 5 days a week. On his last shift our mangers came down and brought him a grocery store cake that he couldn’t eat because he is diabetic and capped it off with a $100 gift card. Oh, did I mention that my retirement gift for Garry was a $150 custom made collector’s item? So, beware about spending your time and talent, beware about providing your time and forgetting what really matters, and even more so forgetting that instead of creating things for ourselves and the right people we end up giving them to the wrong ones.
XERGIUS 