What Qualifies a Man as a "Real Man" and How to Be One?

Why does a man become a man? How does one define a "real man"? Beyond the strictly biological, what is a man anyway?

The solution to this question was simple hundreds of years ago. What was considered masculine depended on the cultural context in which you were raised. There was no discussion. Not a conversation. Not too in-depth inquiries.

You were an artist, a farmer, a philosopher, and a fighter. Being a man was simple.

However, the solutions aren't as obvious as they formerly were.

The concept of a true man and masculinity are ill-defined. PC society is attacking the traditional masculine characteristics of strength, honor, temperance, authority, influence, etc. With a single breath, Men are taught to be vulnerable, to be in touch with their emotions, and to express their sentiments. The next tells us that these kinds of emotional outbursts are weak or even hazardous, as is the case with "negative" emotions like want, rage, and ambition.

We no longer know what constitutes a guy. We don't know the meaning of manhood. There are no obvious instructions for us. No one to turn to for mentorship.

And the outcomes have been disastrous. Men are lost, despairing, and enraged now more than ever. In contemporary society, there are many cases of depression, anxiety, suicide, and senseless violence. Meanwhile, our culture is asking itself, "Where have all the real men gone?"

We also need to come up with a personal response to this query. We We have to define what it is to be a man.

And where better to begin than with the chronicles of masculinity? We can arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of masculinity that transcends the clichéd assertion that “real men don’t cry” by examining the traditional masculine archetypes and weighing their advantages and disadvantages.

By taking a closer look at our history, we can better shape a bright future.