How Politics Is Forcing Us to Look at Manhood

What does being a man entail?

Tim Walz is being called America's dad, and scenes with his family underscore this. Meanwhile, J.D. Vance is talking up his service record, and accuses Walz of stolen valor—Walz spent 24 years in the Army National Guard but did not deploy to Iraq. Donald Trump epitomized the successful 1980s playboy and businessman in New York City and strong currents of masculinity drive his popularity—for example, his fist pump after being shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a July rally.

Kamala Harris offers a counterpoint as the first woman of color to head a major party ticket.

Both Republican and Democratic conventions, in very different ways, played up the role of men taking power (Hulk Hogan tearing his shirt at the Republican National Convention) and the role of women taking power potentially away from men (Harris talking about reproductive rights for women at the Democratic National Convention). These images are starkly different visions of manhood; the kindly father, the valiant serviceman, and the playboy-businessman. And as a challenge, the assertive woman fighting for women. Wikipedia describes versions of masculinity that trend, for some, to the negative: toxic masculinity, hypermasculinity, and hegemonic masculinity.

When viewing what it means to be a man, it may be best to view masculinity as a social construction. What was true once about what it means to be a man, may not be true today and certainly will not be true tomorrow. In politics, as often in life, one shapes the other. While we cannot fully consider what being a man entails without considering the role of women (and same-sex and non-binary partners, among others), here we are looking at some standard and, hopefully, recognizable definitions of masculinity.

The Knight in Shining Armor

Easily recognizable and clearly heterosexual historically (though no longer), this traditional model of masculinity excels on the battlefield and the playing field, He sweeps women off their feet, saving them from the mythological dragon while scoring the winning touchdown in overtime and sinking the decisive three-pointer at the buzzer. He is the prom king who may have served his country. He is laconic, strong, and handsome.

The Bard

The glib, poetry-reciting man who woos his intended with soothing tones, sometimes sung under her window, is another version of masculinity (with apologies to Cyrano de Bergerac). Consider the smooth-singing male vocal groups of the 1960s for a more modern version. He is not the prom king but the star of the high school musical. He listens, wears his heart on his sleeve, and may appear vulnerable with his emotions.

The Dad

Know any dad jokes? This is a newer version of what women (and men) want. He is the coach, the steady guy who comes home on time and is reliable. According to the Pew Research Center, almost one in five stay-at-home parents are dads. Dads are more likely to take paternity leave now than in the past and are increasingly engaged in child care and housework (while still doing less of both than moms). As women have increasingly entered the workforce, having an equal partner at home and work is important. Is this masculinity? Many would say being a responsible family man is the height of masculinity. Men are interested in being parents, according to a 2024 Pew poll. In fact, among those without children and between the ages of 18 and 34, men appear to be more interested than women. The father's role is often emphasized in houses of worship as the role model.

The Nerd

Hello, high tech. Not imposing physically and not overly verbal, the nerd is the smartest guy in the room and is often attractive for that reason. He may be the leader behind the scenes who figures out in the end how to solve problems using his intellect. In a high-tech world, he is often on the inside track.

Conclusion

These images of masculinity (and others) are embedded in our psyche. When we watch the upcoming debates between a strong man and a strong woman (my impression of the two) and between two different visions of masculinity (my impression of the two) in the vice-presidential debates, consider what we are reacting to. Is this an important consideration? Do we feel more comfortable with one than the other concerning masculinity and femininity as the two are often connected? Or does the representation of gender have nothing to do with it?