Masculine Men are Needed and It’s Time We Said So

The “esteemed” Forbes magazine published this article, 7 Reasons Why Millennial Men Are Reinventing Masculinity. It details how masculinity is being recreated, redefined, and reinvented. The idea of men reinventing themselves from warriors to billboards of woke ideology makes me want to weep. 

Instead, America needs bold voices to clarify men who embrace virtuous masculinity play an important role in our lives.

Change is good

Some forms of cultural reformation are very valid: it is not necessary that men walk around in top hats and long-tailed coats, or wear white wigs at fancy balls, or sleep in nightgowns (unless they want to of course). It is good that women are celebrated as independent and acknowledged as able: women can build a fire, fix a car, run a machine, or make decisions at the voting booth. Some progressive changes are good and necessary. 

I am most concerned that some men are allowing themselves to surrender to the liberal progressive message: “you are too masculine, too tough, be softer, talk quieter, sit more still, and whatever you do - women reign supreme.” Now, some liberal champions will argue that what I just named is not their message. But we all know that sometimes the fruit of our message is the greater message. And to the consumer, we are picking up egregious messaging: manly men are not loved by the progressive extremes and feminism is the ideal. 

I ache when I see the confidence of many men erode as a species and the pummeling they take to “not be traditionally masculine.” In some cases, traditionally masculine is just what we need them to be.

In addition, the idea that women - who love men - are not speaking up is additionally grievous. I don’t want men to become more feminine. And with all that is within me, I do not like that we as a nation and culture are allowing their gender to be re-defined.
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Men in their Masculinity are Needed

Whether they have manicures, wear skinny jeans, sport a new tattoo, throw axes for fun or growl and grunt for their communication is not the point of this piece. My concern is more with the soul of man, how he views himself, how he serves in culture and how he sees his own identity from the inside out. How he sees himself is how those of us who are paying attention will see him. Their opinion of themselves is what matters first. However, it only takes a matter of time for a sub-culture to hear that they are not wanted or needed before they start believing it and acting accordingly.

Our nation benefits when men are willing to advocate for something, capable of leading, and willing to engage in the process. We need men with the courage to run into a dangerous situation and guard our homes and children from intruders of all kinds. We need men who have strong backbones, willing to stand when no one else will, able to be appropriately assertive, and to take charge when others hesitate.  

Men are significant in households, work environments, parenting relationships, and in families at large. Men provide a certain stability. Men have a unique protective vein; they offer an assuredness - a calm to help you process the situation. They provide a valuable perspective. Their body DNA has extra muscle mass and power able to handle heavier things. They give confidence, see varying angles, and know how to make things safer, stronger, more secure. 

Masculine men are significant, valuable, and to be celebrated, not shunned. 
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Dealing with the Consequences  ​

Why has our society belittled men when in actuality we are better when they thrive? At this stage in the game, society is feeling the absence of good men involved – but they don’t yet realize it - and they are soon to start blaming them for not showing up more. 

This article highlights how loneliness is such a significant issue among men. This does not surprise me. We have pushed them away. Why? For varying reasons. How much has our society caused them to believe they just aren’t perfect enough, aren’t good enough, never will be good enough, and should squelch their propensities? When will we realize women are not perfect either? While we are being so honest let’s just admit - there is no perfect male or female!

A day is coming when women are going to wake up and recognize the monster of aggressive feminism that we have allowed to perpetuate. We have fought so hard to get to an equal playing field that many women in today’s society have pushed, kicked, and shamed men off the field almost completely. 

Oftentimes when men have tried helping us - we have shunned them. When they have tried to speak up, we have asserted ourselves to decry “we are capable of standing on our own! I can do it!” When they have offered to serve, we have reminded them they are not needed. When they have failed we have stomped on them. 

We need direction sometimes that men offer that we cannot see clearly and they can. We can’t fill the role of “father’s shoes''. We can’t reproduce children on our own. Women are not enough. Men are needed. Men are not enough. Women are needed. We both are distinctly amazing as species and one cannot work without the other. We have undervalued our role as women to build up and instead have used our influence to tear down. 

Men and women are uniquely, magnificently, and wonderfully different - each needed to make things whole. 

- Amy Hawkins (Jackson Michigan) is a small business owner with 20 years in statewide politics, movement building, and inspiring action for civic engagement. 

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