For each man, one of the most persistent questions in his life is "Am I a man?" Or, more likely, am I man enough? For each boy, the biggest question is "When will I be a man?" Or "What do I have to do to be a man?" Masculinity is the synergistic result of three factors--the abilities, ideas, and actions a male can innately have (his tools); the intentions with which he uses his tools; and the level of acceptance by his society of his chosen masculinity tools and intentions.

Required masculinity is the most enforced and expected form of masculinity in our culture. It is also...

For each man, one of the most persistent questions in his life is "Am I a man?" Or, more likely, am I man enough? For each boy, the biggest question is "When will I be a man?" Or "What do I have to do to be a man?" Masculinity is the synergistic result of three factors--the abilities, ideas, and actions a male can innately have (his tools); the intentions with which he uses his tools; and the level of acceptance by his society of his chosen masculinity tools and intentions.

Required masculinity is the most enforced and expected form of masculinity in our culture. It is also...