Is There Anything Good About Being a Man?

[Carl The Manicorn]

I am writing a feature in journalism about being a man, and I wanted to hear people's thoughts. I won't use names, but if you want your name in a small town news paper give me the okay.

When someone asked me if there was anything good about being a man, I was stumped. The only thing that came to mind was the fact that we didn't have to deal with "Aunt Ruby coming to town".

But all joking aside, what are the upsides of being a male

 

[Skin]

I don't know. From observation, it seems that guys are alot less stressed in general. Plus we can pee standing up.

 

[Spinozaad]

If you're white, Western, middle class or higher, and male; you've basically won the Cosmic Lottery.

To be sure, life can still get you down, and you might still lose the societal ratrace. But, damn, you've got a headstart on most others, boy!

 

[Thaluikhain]

As opposed to being a women?

Theoretically, no, we are all supposed to be equal.

In practice, you tend to have big advantages over women in your position much of the time.

Being a man shouldn't be that different from being a woman, same as being white shouldn't be different from being black or being straight shouldn't be different from being gay. But society has a way to go yet.

 

[JoJo]

We don't have nearly as much social pressure as women do to appear attractive, on average we're physically stronger and less likely to break down under emotional pressure. There are exceptions to these of course. Us men are also much less likely to be victims of rape or sexual abuse, so there's that too.

 

[Durgiun]

Bilogically:
-We're stronger and are therefore more likely to kick ass and take names if a mugger comes along.
-As you said, no Aunt Ruby, but also no birthing children
-We have better spacial orientation (or so I've heard)

From societal standpoint... I ain't touchin' that shit with a 10 foot pole.

 

[Carl The Manicorn]

As opposed to being a women?

Theoretically, no, we are all supposed to be equal.

This is a great point. When the person asked me if there was anything good, I said that aren't we all equal? We should all be equal, technically. But society hasn't quite made it there yet.

And to Skin, peeing standing up is a great upside. The world is our urinal.

 

[Jonluw]

We can pee standing up (without devices to help us), we don't have to deal with periods, and we don't have to give birth.
I'm so glad I don't have to shove a small human being out of one of my orifices.
And it's socially acceptable to not spend stupid amounts of money on clothes and accesories. Clothes-shopping in general is also a lot easier.
The requirements for grooming are also far lower.
Also, I hear getting breasts growing up can be pretty traumatic in some cases.

Then again, erections and ejaculation sucks pretty hard.

Spoiler: And the names of our deodorant fragrances do not make sense.

 

[Chewster]

In practice, you tend to have big advantages over women in your position much of the time.

This. Being a white man pretty much rules in every possible way.

Also, your thread title is funny to me, for some reason. I thought it was going to be a rant about how your life as a dude sucks, and how women reject you and how they control sex and other stereotype gripes and the like, so I am glad to see this is not the case. Good onya, I guess.

 

[GonvilleBromhead]

The fact that in manners of dress, men have rules, women have to rely on intuition.

 

[Carl The Manicorn]

In practice, you tend to have big advantages over women in your position much of the time.

This. Being a white man pretty much rules in every possible way.

Also, your thread title is funny to me, for some reason. I thought it was going to be a rant about how your life as a dude sucks, and how women reject you and how they control sex and other stereotype gripes and the like, so I am glad to see this is not the case. Good onya, I guess.

I try not to be a little twelve year old with a keybord. I like to not spill my problems onto the interwebs like so many emos do with their Livejournals and Tumblrs. I just wanted some quotes and to see what the Escapist community had to say. We are usually an educated lot.

 

[PleasantKenobi]

If you're white, Western, middle class or higher, and male; you've basically won the Cosmic Lottery.

To be sure, life can still get you down, and you might still lose the societal ratrace. But, damn, you've got a headstart on most others, boy!

Spinozaad got in with what I wanted to say, and quite concisely. Being male, unfortunately, still carries privilege in modern society.

 

[PleasantKenobi]

Oh and of course, child birth isn't our problem directly. On top of this, society still suggests that a man go to work while the woman needs to play the 'role' of mother at home. I mean, paternity leave is something that is still hotl contested/frowned upon in some circles I believe. Make of that, what you will.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

PROS: Raw strength via testosterone, social and cultural privilege in many areas of the world
CONS: We're hideous, hairy, and we smell terrible

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Then again, erections and ejaculation sucks pretty hard.

You're doing it wrong.

 

[Wolfram23]

Generally speaking, men still have a much easier time advancing in the business world and getting positions of power.

 

[HardkorSB]

But all joking aside, what are the upsides of being a male

Biological advantages?
- no mandatory bleeding from between the legs
- no pregnancy
- bigger strength, speed, stamina etc. (in general, not on an individual level)
- we're supposedly better at solving logical problems (at least some studies have shown that)
- men stay physically attractive longer than women

Social advantages:
Humanity has been ruled by mostly men and laws created by men. Although that is changing and the current generations have more or less equal opportunities, the people who are in control of politics and economy were raised in different times so they live by different rules.
I think that there will be social equality when everyone 40+ will be gone and the "internet generation" will be in power. But that's just what I think.

 

[Carl The Manicorn]

Then again, erections and ejaculation sucks pretty hard.

You're doing it wrong.

Well, if you think about it, boners in the middle of serious events, like a funeral or during school, suck.

As for ejaculation, if that sucks pretty hard, then you are indeed doing it wrong.

 

[Jonluw]

Then again, erections and ejaculation sucks pretty hard.

You're doing it wrong.

I don't get it.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Well we tend to have to "man-up" all the time so breaking down and just losing it like women can get away with is just not in our cards. I find it a bit unfair.

Still being a man is great in the end, namely our plumbing is streamline and easy to maintain. Not to mention I never have a parasite growing in me.