The Decline of Masculinity: What Happened to Manliness?

Does it seem like men today are getting less and less masculine?

Masculinity is a social construct that is influenced by both social and biological factors.

In Webster’s Dictionary, it is defined as “having qualities appropriate to or usually associated with a man.”

Across many generations, societies and cultures, there are defined parameters for masculine behavior. In general, masculinity is often associated with being bigger, stronger, having better muscle definition, and a ‘fight’ rather than ‘flight’ instinct.

A man with a firm handshake, a deep voice, a tall, strong skeletal structure, and well-defined muscles, is the classic example of a masculine man.

Masculinity: Then and Now

In the hunter-gatherer periods in human history, men used their physical strength to overcome enemies, and hunt animals far larger than themselves and were able to find the best mates to build their communities with.

As the industrial age took hold, and machines began doing the heavy lifting that had previously been done by men, and people began to live more sedentary lifestyles that involve sitting for long periods of time, the physical abilities of men have changed.

A man’s masculinity, in societal terms, is traditionally linked to his fertility, sperm counts and, by association then, his testosterone levels.

It's in the Hormones

On a chemical level, our bodies function with the aid of hormones. The endocrine system regulates this. Environmental factors, such as the foods we consume, and psychological factors, influence the release of hormones from our bodies.

Several significant studies dating back to the 1980’s, have observed that men have shown a significant decline (1.2-1.3% annually) in testosterone levels over the past few decades.

As testosterone is the hormone responsible for producing sperm, the decline in the level of this hormone is directly related to the decline in fertility and libido amongst men.

In fact, as many as two-thirds of men donating sperm to sperm banks are now rejected because of the lower sperm counts and lack of motility in their sperm donations.

Cortisol, a hormone associated with higher stress levels, has been proven to be responsible for higher rates of abdominal obesity and the related diseases like late-onset diabetes.

These factors are shown to reduce the production of testosterone, and can be responsible for lower sperm counts, infertility, and impotence.

There are also everyday objects and foods we use and consume that have negative effects on the levels of testosterone in men, from the plastics we use, especially those that contain BPA’s, to the pesticides and fertilizers used in commercial food production.

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and is a key component in male health beyond just sexual function and fertility. Bone density and muscle mass are influenced by testosterone, so a man’s physical abilities are linked to his testosterone levels. Additionally, testosterone affects brain function, with higher levels of the hormone being associated with higher levels of motivation, competitive drive, and social dominance.

Effects on Society

Another key factor that has shifted dramatically since the 1950’s is the blurring of gender role definitions. Women are more likely to work and in many households are the primary breadwinners.

While life has become easier in the physical sense and daily tasks have been simplified with gadgets; workloads, debt, unemployment rates, fast-paced work environments and massive cultural and political shifts have increased the amount of stress and stress-related illnesses men face daily and can leave lasting damage in the male physiological form and psyche.

Men with lower libidos, poor sperm counts, and poor health may suffer psychological effects such as depression. In fact, more than 70% of suicides in the UK are committed by men.

With the emergence of androgyny in the 90’s, where male and female roles are less defined and visible in the way someone dresses and presents themselves to society, and fashion trends for men becoming more feminine, it seems reasonable to ask the question as to whether male masculinity is declining in the traditional sense, or if society is simply redefining sexuality in new ways?

One of the biggest concerns is that, if the trends in declining testosterone and sperm counts continue, it will result in severe drops in populations across the globe, especially in developed countries.

Conclusion

Normally, in my conclusions, I come to some sort of proposed solution or explanation. In this article, I am going to do things a little differently. My hope is that this will lead to a collective discussion on the topic. I will also be writing about this topic in future articles and the discussion will help to guide my thoughts on it.

Here are a few questions to think on and discuss:

Has the need for traditional masculinity become redundant?

How will women be affected by this ‘decline’ or shift in male masculinity?

More importantly, if these trends continue, what will be the impact on future generations of men and society as a whole?

Would redefining masculinity to incorporate the man’s ability to take care of his family in emotional and social ways, rather than placing the strongest emphasis on the physical aspects of his masculine nature, take some of the psychological pressure off men and restore some of their physical manifestations of masculinity, such as sperm counts and motility?

Do we need to emphasize intellectual and emotional strengths when choosing a mate, to support a society that is developing in leaps and bounds in that direction?

Photos courtesy of Pixabay

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