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Defining True Masculinity: What Does it Mean to be a Man?

If you’re up-to-date on any of Beyonce’s song, then you know you have to be a man. But really, what does it mean to be a man? Find out here.

what does it mean to be a man

It’s not as easy to be a man as you might think. We girls say that we want a man, but what does being a man actually include?

Men are not psychics, so “being a man” is kind of like walking around blindfolded. But there is hope! You may or may not know it, but there are some basic essentials that a man should have. And for most of you, you already have it.

What does it mean to be a man

If you’re thinking that it has to do with having muscles and a beard, think again. So, here’s the scoop so you can stop asking yourself, “What does it mean to be a man?” [Read: How to be a man the way he really should be]

#1 He’s thoughtful

If your girlfriend’s been at work all day, and you had the day off thinking to yourself, “I bet she’s hungry” is a great start. Now, after that step, if you continue to watch TV and not make dinner, then you’re being inconsiderate and selfish.

If you’re wondering what does it take to be a man, well, looking out for others’ well-being is a start. Thoughtfulness and kindness are huge personality characteristics that people are looking for in potential partners.

Women want a man who will care about them. It’s that simple. I don’t want some guy who scratches his beer gut while I’m vacuuming around his feet. I ain’t your mamma. [Read: 20 little things that can make your girlfriend incredibly happy]

#2 Supports others

Being a man means supporting those around you. Whether it’s your girlfriend, best friend, or co-worker, you need to be able to step in when someone around you needs support. This doesn’t mean taking on their work for them, but simply being there to push them through their troubling time.

People need support and when they’re down and out, they’ll need to have their friends and family there to support them. And being a man means that you are one of those people.

#3 Accepts responsibility for his actions

You screwed up. It’s going happen. As a female, we may think you screwed up more than you actually did. But if you really did screw up and you know it, just acknowledge it. Listen, by doing so, you’ll prevent a fight from happening – and you’ll gain more respect from people because you’re honest and self-aware.

Unless you accidentally lost your girlfriend’s guinea pig. In that case, just buy her an identical one. No one will ever notice. [Read: How to say sorry to your girl when you know you’ve messed up]

#4 Takes pride in how he looks

Women appreciate a guy who can wear a fitted pair of pants with a non-wrinkled shirt. If you have a shower beforehand, that’s even a bigger bonus. The point is, a man who takes pride in how he looks is showing his confidence and self-worth. It is about him and how he sees himself. A man sees himself as that – a man. So be that man, fellas.

#5 Knows what he wants

You don’t need to have your whole life plan written on a scroll, and you may not know what you want in 5 or 10 years, but you need to know what you want now. That’s a start. A man who knows what he wants is a man who has a goal, whether that be the short or long term. Point is, he’s driven and focused. [Read: 25 things that make a man incredibly attractive to women]

#6 Takes care of himself

This goes past the hair and clothes. So, we all know now, that a man is someone who values himself. And when you value yourself, you take care of yourself. You exercise, you eat healthily, you read – you keep your body, mind and soul balanced.

There’s nothing worse than seeing a guy who drinks every day, doesn’t want to go swimming or walking, and thinks reading is boring. He’s basically rotting on the couch.

#7 Learns from failure

We all fail, and we will all continue to fail at many things. This is just the learning process we all go through. But, there is a difference between men and boys on this subject. When a boy fails, he pouts, he’s upset, and he’s ashamed. When a man fails, he acknowledges his failure as a lesson to learn from and figures out ways to grow from the experience.

See where I’m going with this? No pouting. Don’t even quiver that lip. Head up and continue forward. [Read: The fear of failure and why you shouldn’t be afraid to fail]

#8 Isn’t focused on following the crowd – he’s unique and proud of it

Trying to grow your beard out and have a hip ponytail? That won’t make you a philosopher nor will it make you look any more masculine. I mean, physically, you’ll look more masculine, but that doesn’t mean anything.

A man is someone who is himself. He knows what he likes and what he doesn’t like. He isn’t trying to impress you with some trendy shirt he bought at Zara or some new shaving cream that David Beckham wears – he doesn’t give a shit.

#9 He listens

If there’s a girl talking to you and you’re on your phone ignoring her, you’re not a man – you’re an ass. It’s that simple. It’s called respect. A man who can truly be present and listen to someone else is showing respect to others. If you can’t do that, well, either go live in a Wifi-free hole, or put your phone down. It’s that easy. [Read: 12 changes that’ll transform you from a nice guy to a real man]

#10 Isn’t wrapped up in gender roles

Girls can’t be doctors. Boys can’t be dancers. I’m over these gender roles and you should be too. A man is someone who is accepting of what he loves to do and what others love to do. If you’re stuck on the fact that your girlfriend is working, then you need to take a trip back to the 1950s, because this isn’t the era for you.

[Read: 21 things a guy does that’ll make all girls adore him a lot more]

Being a man means more than just a manly face and a plaid shirt. If you want to know what does it mean to be a man, you need to look within.

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Natasha_Ivanovic
Natasha Ivanovic
Natasha Ivanovic is an intimacy, dating, and relationship writer best known for her writings on Kiiroo, LovePanky, Post Pravda, and more. She's the creator and ...
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