What (in your society) is a 'real man'?

[Anomalocaris]

The definition in my social circles here in the south U.S is similar to GN's. A man is a protector and provider that is considerate, committed, and can be counted on.

And that distinguishes “a man” from “a woman” how?

[The Grand Nudger]

The definition in my social circles here in the south U.S is similar to GN's. A man is a protector and provider that is considerate, committed, and can be counted on.

Some people wont believe, and won't be happy until, you tell them that what you were taught was a real man™ was essentially toxic.

[GrandizerII]

Societally, there appear to be different ways to be considered a "real man" if you're a man.

Some examples:

• you work your ass off for your family who completely rely on you financially
  
• you're emotionally supportive to your woman
  
• you're a good father to your kids
  
• you're abusive to your woman when she "misbehaves"
  
• you're a shit father who acts like you treat your kids the way you do out of some weird notion of fatherly "love"
  
• you're the head of a company
  
• you're single, but fuck a lot of women on a regular basis (or have that reputation at least)
  

So many different ways. Not just one way. Basically, be "clearly" male and achieve some of many milestones recognized by society as being an "adult" (and be "outstanding" in what you do).

[Anomalocaris]

The definition in my social circles here in the south U.S is similar to GN's. A man is a protector and provider that is considerate, committed, and can be counted on.

Some people wont believe, and won't be happy until, you tell them that what you were taught was a real man™ was essentially toxic.

a particular definition of a “real man” isn’t toxic in the gender sense unless it also implies women shouldn’t be like that. 

otherwise “real men” might be interpreted as “real adult”.

[The Grand Nudger]

True, I think and was taught that the basic requirements of being a real woman™ are entirely identical. There are minor differences. It's expected that a real man is more disciplinarian and a real woman more permissive. Anyone who's committed to this has to/will/wants to find a partner to plug whatever hole they might have. Our ideas of what it means to be real™ - which in this case is just a synonym for good™, are as complicated as our situations.

-and when you put a real woman and a real man together you get a real family.

[Thumpalumpacus]

ITT, people arguing about whose definition of a "real man" is more right or more fucked. Stupid shit.

[Nanny]

Maybe a ‘real man’ would be the single dad who works two jobs to make sure his kids are taken care of, or the divorced dad who never misses a child support payment or visitation with his kids.

Maybe a ‘real man’ is the guy who stops to help someone change a tire, when the stranded motorist isn’t a pretty 5’6” blonde with big boobs, or the bloke who mows his neighbour’s lawn for free because the neighbour is an elderly pensioner.

Or the ‘real man’ could be the one who doesn’t care about someone else’s gender, skin tone, accent, or sexual habits, as long as that someone is a good person.

A ‘real man’ doesn’t beat his kids or his wife, doesn’t abuse animals, understands that the woman who rejects him isn’t a lesbian, and doesn’t think there’s such a thing as ‘woman’s work’.

There’s a difference between ‘manliness’ and ‘machismo’.

Boru

This reminds me of a track by Genesis Elijiah called G. (I disagree about the "snitch" part). 

I've been the man from a youth
Always a stand up youth
Never back stabbed no people
No underhanded moves
No underhanded motives
Loyalty's a standard move
I was raised by real badman
And that's how real badman move
And there might be some confusion
About what a real G is
Real G's make their own money
Real G's raise their kids
Real G's don't hit women
That's to a G that's a bitch
Real G's ain't no rapist ain't no racist
Ain't no snitch

[no one]

I received my man card from Real Man U. Summa Cum Laude, I might add.
I have a really, really big penis too.

[FrustratedFool]

I wonder what size penis is the minimum to be classed as a 'real man'?

Plenty would insist someone must at least have one, and it be functional, and be used only for heterosexual intercourse. Some might also insist that its use had led to genetic offspring. Some would likely argue that a mciropenis wouldn't count.

When people think of a 'real man's' penis, do they not think of a large penis? Probably.

[tackattack]

The definition in my social circles here in the south U.S is similar to GN's. A man is a protector and provider that is considerate, committed, and can be counted on.

And that distinguishes “a man” from “a woman” how?

My personal definition of what “ real man” means has nothing to do with your sexual genitalia, or how well it performs, or what it’s performed on. My definition of “real man” is not two separate words but a concept as a whole. My definition of male and female is a completely separate thing.