Men Are Sharing The "Manly" Expectations They Secretly Think Are Overrated, And I've Never Thought About Some Of These
Recently, Redditor u/HyperIndus232 asked the men of the Reddit Community to share which "manly" societal expectation they secretly think is overrated, and some points were made. Here are some of the standards men think we should all move past:
1. "Working a wild amount of hours. I do work a lot of OT, but I don't think anything is inherently manly about it."
2. "Fixing vehicles. I'm a computer guy, and I'm very good at what I do, but I always feel a sense of embarrassment when a vehicle breaks down and I don't know how to fix it. Cars are so complicated now, too. It's not as simple as a busted alternator nowadays."
— Busy_Daikon_6942
3. "Being expected to watch any kind of sports."
4. "Bro, I don't care — I'm peeing sitting down. I'll use the urinal when out and about, but I'm sitting my ass down at home."
— _34_
5. "That certain drinks are 'manly' (beer, straight vodka, etc.) while others aren't. Who freakin' cares? It's going into your body anyway. Preferring a piña colada doesn't change your dick size. I say this as someone who rarely drinks, but if I do, I usually just get a whiskey on the rocks. I never understood the whole 'you don't chug beer?!' nonsense."
7. "This 'no emotions' nonsense. Men have been forced to suppress emotions besides anger. In the Victorian era, stoicism became the ideal of masculinity. Women used to romanticize the silent, unshakeable man, thus making emotional restraint the standard. Additionally, having such a standard was useful to get men to join the war because what? You're afraid of a little PTSD or death? Man up and power through. I mean, having control and composure are necessary for sure, but over time, it came at a cost. Generations of men learned to bury pain, stress, and even joy, leading to isolation and internal struggles. Strength isn't just silence — it's knowing when to speak, when to feel, knowing what you're feeling, and letting others in."
8. "Paying all the bills. My wife and I discuss finances, but, honestly, she's better at it than me, so she takes care of it for the most part. Heck, I sometimes forget rent is due on the first."
— JimBones31
9. "'Chasing' a woman you're interested in. I've never had a good relationship with a woman I've chased. It was always with someone who showed equal or higher enthusiasm, and I reciprocated."
10. "Expressing anger. Too many men think being mad and angry makes them more manly, but it's childish. And 99% of the time I ever act in anger, it's the wrong move."
— izwald88
11. "The obsession with having perfect, green lawns. It's hands down my biggest beef with almost anything that's considered 'manly.' I mean, look at how much space in the suburbs is dedicated to lawns that people do nothing with. Now, don't get me wrong, I'd be totally fine if it were actual natural grass with local grasses, plants, and biodiversity — but it isn't. It's always some foreign grass that gets plastered down and drenched in environmental toxins until it's the only thing that grows across the entirety of the plot. It's an ecological dead zone. For all intents and purposes, it might a well be a slab of concrete. At least then, it wouldn't need to leech chemicals into the ground at all times."
u/MDK78 / Via reddit.com
"I don't get why we as a society keep accepting that we should be dumping poison into the ground so people can stare at an ugly green patch. Plant some flowers! Grow a garden! Do SOMETHING other than turn what precious bits of green space you have into turf. I feel the same way about golf courses."
— hoodieninja87
13. "Getting married and having kids. I want to drink booze, sleep with different women, play video games, and travel. I don't want to change diapers, have sleepless nights, and mow the lawn."
15. "Fixing things around the house. Some things can be fixed just fine by yourself, but some things really are better when done by a professional."
16. "Knowing 1,000 stats about athletes who played before you were even born. I swear, some of these sports bros are nerdier than most nerds by how they know everything about teams and players. But since it's sports, it's socially acceptable."
— mikerichh
17. "Having a bunch of sex. As someone who's had a bunch of sex, it's overrated."
19. Lastly: "Hating 'girly' things. If a scented candle or a bath bomb improves your life, why not enjoy it?"
u/chubbagrubb / Via reddit.com
No one asked, but my wish for 2025 is that all men relinquish the 'alpha male' mindset and that they think twice before starting a podcast. If you're a man, what's a common expectation placed on men that you think is largely overrated and unnecessary? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your thoughts using this form!
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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