Masculinity is not a fixed essence. It is a set of social expectations associated with being male — how to act, feel, and relate to others. These expectations vary across cultures, classes, and historical periods. The stoic breadwinner of the 1950s is not the same as the metrosexual of the 2000s or the stay-at-home dad of today.

Raewyn Connell's concept of hegemonic masculinity describes the culturally dominant form that legitimizes men's power over women and over other men. It is not the only masculinity. There are subordinate, marginalized, and complicit masculinities. Men who fail to meet the ideal face ridicule and violence.

Common expectations

• Emotional stoicism: no crying, no fear
• Aggression: physical toughness, competitiveness
• Heterosexuality: homophobia as enforcement
• Provider role: earning and protecting
• Sexual prowess: conquest, not intimacy

Masculinity is changing. Younger men are more likely to reject rigid norms, share housework, and express emotion. But backlash is real. Online communities sometimes promote aggressive, anti-feminist versions of manhood.