The first meaning of the term manhood that the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) includes in its dictionary refers to the condition of man . The concept of man, in turn, names a man or a person in general (that is, a human being ).
The idea of manhood, in this framework, is usually linked to masculinity : the quality of being masculine. That is why manhood is related to those attributes that are traditionally attributed to men : physical strength, bravery, chivalry, etc.
These thoughts, of course, have a sexist overtone . Women can also have physical strength and be brave: that is why establishing a link between manhood as a masculine condition and these qualities goes against gender equality.
Manliness, on the other hand, can refer to positive qualities of a human being in general. In this framework, the expression of good manhood is used to refer to someone's honesty, honesty and integrity. It sounds strange, however, to point out that a woman has “good manliness,” demonstrating once again the machismo inherent in this type of language constructions.
It can even be understood that manhood refers to the positive qualities of a man who does not engage in machismo . In this context, the subject who demonstrates his manhood is the one who respects women and who acts correctly from a moral point of view. Another view adds that manhood should not be associated with physical strength or a misunderstood bravery that is exercised through violence.
The more we open our minds to diversity and gender equality, the more difficult it is for us to understand terms like this and expressions that tend to divide us and put the heterosexual man above the rest of the people. Let us not forget that machismo not only attacks heterosexual women but also any person who was not born with male genital organs and who recognizes himself as a man who is sexually attracted to women.
In other words, the use - and misuse - of the term manhood can negatively affect a significant part of the human population. Homosexual men, for example, are often victims of comments that question their masculinity, as if it were linked to their sexual tastes. Returning to the process - slow, but existing - of cultural renewal that we are going through to gradually approach a state of open -mindedness, we know that there are as many examples of masculine, physically strong and reckless homosexual men as there are of effeminate, weak and cowardly heterosexuals, among many other intermediate combinations.
The personality traits of each individual cannot be inferred from their sexual orientation , but are formed as a result of complex developmental processes that begin in early childhood and continue for many years. We are not the mere reflection of the body parts with which we were born, but the result of the experiences we have lived, so that the path that our personality goes through is absolutely unpredictable and can surprise us until the last day of our life.
As mentioned in previous paragraphs, if we are going to continue using the word manhood perhaps it would be appropriate to infuse it with a meaning that aims to "exhibit admirable values and fight for justice and equality", although it would probably be healthier for our language to leave it in the We forget to focus on those that include us all or that do not contain subjective ideas that respect an absurd hierarchy in which the heterosexual male reigns, since this scheme is weakening with every second.