| Real Men
It is never off-season to poke fun at men. Even men poke fun at men: commercials geared toward a male audience often depict intelligent, composed women next to lewd, beer-guzzling males. It is a mentality typified by the phrase, "real men don't eat quiche." Yet it isn't fair to paint men with these mostly negative stereotypes, when the truth is much more complex. You might think that, because I am male, you can predict what I'll be doing every time Monday Night Football roles around. But the truth is, nothing puts me to sleep faster than a discussion of football statistics. The only sports I enjoy are ones where I am not staring passively at the TV screen. Even then I'd rather go swimming or hiking than participate in a more competitive event. Perhaps this breaks yet another stereotype about men's competitiveness. At times I find myself both relating to and rejecting the stereotypes around me. Disorganized? It depends. I can pull out an article on Bible study resources in less than a minute, and then spend hours trying to find my camping flashlight. I've met men who were more organized, and women who were less organized. Lousy cook? Perhaps I don't look like a gourmet when I cook for myself, but I have been complimented on my culinary skills when I am cooking for company. Poor communication skills? Then why do I prefer a heartfelt conversation to a casual card game? Now, I am not one to uphold the cause of radical feminism, which tries to eliminate any difference between the sexes. I don't buy dolls for my nephews, or trucks for my nieces. I don't condone unisex bathrooms or unisex clothing. A quick glance at men and women will show that there are unique physical differences, and our experiences have also shown general personality differences, as well. Certainly God has made men and women different, both physically and emotionally. But that same God who has made men and women different has made each person different. Each individual is a unique creation of God, with interests and characteristics and personality that in combination are not like any other. So, while we may see trends among men or women, we must be careful in pigeonholing a man merely based on his sex. I know that I may have some characteristics that fit the typical male stereotype, and others that are way off. The differences don't make me doubt my masculinity - being male is more than just a set of personality traits. It is how God has made me, both the similarities and the differences. Some of those characteristics are positive, and some are negative. As a creation in the image of God, I have some of his personal nature in me. As a fallen creature, I have much of the sin of Adam in me. As a male, I have a mixture of good and bad, and a mixture of traits similar to and unique from others who are also male. It is this unique mixture that makes me male, and makes me my own personality. It is what makes me able to laugh at the negative male stereotypes, when they apply to me and when they don't. I am not ashamed to be called a real man. Even when I do eat quiche! Peter Franck |