 | Relationship BuilderThe Myth of the “Real Man”Posted Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 and visited 143 times, 1 so far today by MInTheGap |
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There have been a lot of calls in recent years for the return of the “real man.” We say that he went missing, replaced by the “meterosexual” or the feminized man.
And now, everyone’s out there trying to define what a real man is. They define it by hobbies—does he like to fish or hunt? Some define it as grooming habits. Others define it by what it’s not: getting facials, botox, etc.
However, all of these are just shots in the dark, as it were. The truth is that the whole dynamic between men and women have changed, and few want to go back.
It’s been said that both men and women want a wife. In the poem, I Think You Want a Wife the author tells single women that if they’re truly looking for a husband, they won’t be looking for the qualities that are supposed to be found in a wife, and what you will be as a wife.
The problem is that few people actually believe these roles are worthwhile. They look at them as cast offs—things from a long dead era. In order for the “real man” to return, the “real wife” would have to return. In order for the “real man” to return, a lot of the influence of feminism would have to be erased.
And I’m not sure we truly want the “real man”—we probably just want what we believe surrounded him—we remember him with nostalgia.
Join me as we look into the roles of men and women from a Biblical perspective, and central to this discussion is whether the roles that the Bible has for men and women are applicable any longer, and if they are, what should we do about them?
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Table of contents for Servant Leadership
- The Myth of the “Real Man”
- Starting At the Beginning
- The Devaluing of Women
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:01 am
This is always an interesting conversation with college students when we ask them to describe a “man” and a “woman”.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:56 am
@Colleen: I can imagine. Those definitions have changed dramatically.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:25 am Subscribed to Comments
Have you heard the word “retrosexual?” For men, it’s “a guy who actually likes women instead of wanting to act like them. He uses no hair care products except for white rain shampoo, has several flannel shirts, and owns at least one pair of work boots.” For women, she’s “that woman who eschews the sexual-revolution plank of feminism in favor of more-traditional values. Perhaps even 1950s values. A little burlesque, a little Betty Crocker, the retrosexual woman has new-fangled spunk and old-fashioned values: she does for abstinence and monogamy what Slang Flashcards do for Dover illustrations. She may be, well, Sexless in the City, but only ’cause she chooses to be.”
Thanks to the Urban Dictionary for those.
Theoretically, a retrosexual man is a man who is reminiscent of the men in the 1940s and 50s. But even then, they’re looking at outward characteristics like handyman-ness and wardrobe, not character or integrity.
AG’s last blog post..Praise Report for Kaleo
August 27th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
@AG: That’s the first time that I’ve heard that term, thanks for sharing.
I liken it to that test I took a couple weeks ago about how I would rate as a 1920’s man. As you’re taking the survey you know how you should answer, and yet that wouldn’t “work” in our culture today.