Line #222 Main/MenAreTough


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Magazine/ItsAMansWorld https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/51klbprsncl.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Nazis, damsels, beasts and savages. Just another day in the life of the Y-chromosome.]]
3
4	->''"The greatest joy for a man is to defeat his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all they possess, to see those they love in tears, to ride their horses, and to hold their wives and daughters in his arms."''
5	-->-- Unknown, but often attributed to '''UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan'''
6
7	An {{Omnipresent\|Trope}} SuperTrope and [[SisterTrope Brother Trope]] to WomenAreDelicate. It can be assumed to exist in every form of media unless otherwise stated. For a number of reasons, fiction tends to treat men as the stronger, hardier, more reliable, and more resilient of the two genders. In most forms of human society, the assumption is that women are the more delicate of the sexes and are more suited for nurturing than the more aggressive roles undertaken by males of the species. This creates the assumption that ''every'' man is a natural badass or ''should'' be. This may be because MostWritersAreMale, or the implication that MenActWomenAre.
8
9	This {{Stereotype}} has two forms:
10	#Unilateral: Men are naturally tough, strong, competent, capable, aggressive, stubborn, blunt, or dominant.
11	#Bilateral: Men are stronger, tougher, or more blunt, dominant or aggressive '''than women and/or inferior men'''. In this form, even if a man shows more passive, submissive, or weaker qualities, he either shows less of them than his female peers, there is a weaker man to juxtapose with him (unless he ''is'' the weaker man), or [[CompensatingForSomething he compensates for it in some other area.]]
12
13	Regardless, a man being in a dominant, physical role is seen as natural while a woman in the same role is [[ActionGirl treated as exceptional]]. Even if a woman ''does'' take on a physical role, there still exist tropes which portray her as less tough than her male counterparts such as GuysSmashGirlsShoot; MaleMightFemaleFinesse; SheFu; or WaifFu.
14
15	However, the DoubleStandard has a negative effect for men, too. Men are often treated [[MenAreTheExpendableGender as the expendable gender]] or [[AllAbusersAreMale the only ones capable of being abusive]]. Further, because the toughness bar is raised for men, a NonActionGuy will be more harshly criticized than a female counterpart. He will also have to take greater risks and perfom more physical forms of combat. In GuysSmashGirlsShoot, he'd ''better'' be the one smashing even if he's more skilled at shooting.
16
17	Further, men are often portrayed as [[MenUseViolenceWomenUseCommunication not being capable of anything BUT physical force to make their points]]. Often despite the target audience being themselves male, [[ParentingTheHusband guys are portrayed as dumb, childlike, blunt instruments]] who [[MenCantKeepHouse can't do anything right if it involves becoming "domesticated"]]. When that happens, a former badass will turn into a JadedWashout, and possibly a FatSlob. His only means of domestic problem-solving will involve PercussiveMaintenance or TimTaylorTechnology with marginal degrees of success. When it comes to their own children, domesticated men will often be [[BumblingDad bumbling wrecks]], over-compensating in aggression, or [[WhenYouComingHomeDad completely disinterested altogether]]. In short, these domesticated men are portrayed as having something "wrong" with them, due to being removed from fields of violence, power, or non-domestic achievement. In the event that a man is not acting like the in-charge, tough guy he should be, the only things that can cure him are ToughLove or PercussiveTherapy (especially [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan if the percussion is on HIM]]).
18
19	Also, please keep in mind that the word chosen to represent this trope was "tough". In addition to physical force or power, "tough" also means resilient, stubborn, slow to change, dense, and inflexible, which are also ways men are stereotyped. We intentionally chose a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysemy polysemic]] word for this trope because Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible, and like all stereotypes, this one has changed (and will change) a LOT as people attempt to use it or [[DownplayedTrope downplay it]].
20
21	[[Administrivia/DefinitionOnlyPages No Examples, Please]]. This should be an index of tropes, and nothing else.
22	----
23	[[index]]
24	[[foldercontrol]]
25
26	[[folder:Played Straight]]
27	* AccidentalPornomancer: As this trope involves QuestionableConsent, it is usually male because [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale it's less unfortunate that way.]]
28	* ActionDad: A badass who isn't slowed down by fatherhood.
29	* ActionGenreHeroGuy: An ActionHero tough guy.
30	* AllAbusersAreMale: It's assumed that women are far too meek, innocent or wise to use abuse (whether physical or emotional) against men, while men are far too tough or level-headed to be susceptible to abuse. '''Not true.'''
31	* AllAmazonsWantHercules: No matter how strong she is, she always wants a stronger man.
32	* BaldHeadOfToughness: Most examples are of men in order to reinforce the idea that men are tough.
33	* BarbaricBully: Big, butch, and uncivilized bully that typically uses violence as his first response to everything. Almost AlwaysMale and usually WouldntHitAGirl, because that would look weak.
34	* BeardOfBarbarism: Rugged, unkempt beards are often used to symbolize wild, untamed barbarian brutes.
35	* BeastAndBeauty: A savage, beastly male character contrasted with a beautiful and feminine female one.
36	* BedFullOfWomen: A stock visual to demonstrate a character's manliness, virile nature and sexual aptitude by having a number of women in his bed, with the implication that he managed to have sex with (and often satisfy) all of them.
37	* BehindEveryGreatMan: A great man has a woman behind him to assist his greatness.
38	* BestHerToBedHer: She's strong and he has to be stronger to win her.
39	* BiggerIsBetterInBed: The "biggest" man is always the most talented lover. Implies that the size of a phallus is a measurement of sexual prowess.
40	* BoyfriendBlockingDad: The usual attitude of fathers towards their daughters is fierce and over-reacting aggression towards anyone who as much as ''appears'' to be getting friendly with her.
41	* BoyfriendBluff: A man pretends to be a girl's boyfriend to protect her from predators.
42	* BrosBeforeHoes: Men are more reliable friends, so looking out for each other is paramount.
43	* TheBroCode: Men can deal with anything other than getting involved in each others' love lives.
44	* TheCasanova: Getting the ladies is his passion and mission.
45	* CarpetOfVirility: A hairy chest is a sign of a man's potency, power, and fertility (justified inasmuch as the testosterone surge which comes with puberty drives these changes also).
46	* CompeteForTheMaidensHand: Two or more suitors engage in some sort of contest to win a noble, royal or otherwise important woman as their prize.
47	* CulturedBadass: Whereas a man is both sophisticated and able to kick ass. In some ways, considered the apex of what an ideal man should be.
48	* DadTheVeteran: Dad fought in the war.
49	* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: Child raising is domestic and so men suck at it. They're more likely to be WalkingTheEarth ForGreatJustice or some other more active pursuit.
50	* ADayInHerApron: A guy struggles to do womanly chores around the house.
51	* DeclarationOfProtection: A man vowing to protect a woman.
52	* DecoyDamsel: A woman pretends to be a DamselInDistress to trap the hero.
53	* DiariesAreGirly: Diaries are for little girls! A ''real'' man writes in a journal or log.
54	* DisappearedDad: Dad is never around. [[MenAreTheExpendableGender He's either dead]] or has better things to do (in his opinion).
55	* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Men are tougher, so they're expected to take abuse.
56	* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: AManIsAlwaysEager, so raping one is often seen as impossible because they'd never turn down the chance to get laid. '''Not true.'''
57	* DoubleStandardRapeMaleOnMale: Male-on-male rape is often either seen as funny or something deserved.
58	* TheDulcineaEffect: A man instinctively acts to protect a woman, even a complete stranger.
59	* DumbMuscle: Fiction demands that the stronger a man is, the dumber he must be as a NecessaryDrawback.
60	* DynamicAkimbo: A manly pose, done by placing hands on hips and puffing out the chest.
61	* EliteManCourtesanRomance: A wealthy or powerful man romances a sex-worker, typically because he can afford her or she desires a better life which he can provide.
62	* EngagementChallenge: A set of rules, tests or tasks that one must meet in order to prove worthy of a spouse as their prize. The prize is usually a woman, and the challenge is either imposed by her parents, gender customs or some group other than the woman herself. Part of the drama involved is that her feelings are irrelevant--she will be forced to both reject a suitor she loves if they fail, and to accept one she hates if they succeed. Can be gender-inverted, but not commonly.
63	* ExtraYExtraViolent: A Y chromosome is supposedly linked to aggression, so an extra one leads to extra aggression (naturally, women are exempt).
64	* FantasyForbiddingFather: A father who forbids their child from following their whimsical or idealistic dreams, instead demanding that they remain practical and either take up the family business, find practical work, or both.
65	* FathersQuest: A father has to rescue his child from being kidnapped. And usually do it as the man he is.
66	* FavorsForTheSexy: Men will do anything to get laid.
67	* FemalesAreMoreInnocent: Women are incapable of doing anything wrong or harmful unless influenced by a man because of his aggressiveness or violent nature affecting her.
68	* FemaleAngelMaleDemon: Angels are beautiful, kind, and merciful, and thus women. Demons are hideous, cruel, and aggressive, and thus men.
69	* FemaleFelineMaleMutt: Women are the delicate and graceful cats while men are the tougher and lumbering dogs.
70	* FiendishFraternity: Groups of men are dangerous, violent, and hyper-masculine.
71	* FireIsMasculine: Fire represents passion, destruction, aggression and violence, and thus is associated with men, in contrast to WaterIsWomanly.
72	* GirlsStareAtSceneryBoysStareAtGirls: A visual shot that is often shorthand for AManIsAlwaysEager and AllWomenArePrudes. She has her mind on other things, but he has his mind on ''her''.
73	* GlorifiedSpermDonor: He hit it and quit it. This serves the purpose of demonstrating how desirable his "tough genes" are without any implications of domestication.
74	* GoodOlBoy: An old-fashioned, conservative male. May fully embrace and defend gender roles.
75	* GreaseMonkey: Mechanical work is often seen as "men's" expertise.
76	* GrumpyOldMan: The way fiction would tell it, men get more antagonistic as they grow older.
77	* GuysAreSlobs: Guys have no manners because they are tough instead of delicate.
78	* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: Men are physically more capable, so their method of fighting is melee, while women use magic or projectiles.
79	* HeirClubForMen: In which boys are the only worthy heirs, while girls don't count and are often expendable.
80	* HeManWomanHater: A man who hates women and may use his toughness to do them harm.
81	* HeWillNotCrySoICryForHim: A tough character (usually male) will not cry, so another character (possibly a woman or [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan more sensitive man]]) cries for him.
82	* HeroicBuild: Male superheroes are muscular and impressive while females are fit, dexterous and [[MostCommonSuperpower buxom]].
83	* HerosMuse: The hero goes off on a journey and is inspired by a woman.
84	* HighHeelFaceTurn: Women are more likely than men to make a HeelFaceTurn because of their innate innocence.
85	* HollywoodActionHero: Almost always male to reinforce the trope of the manly-man action star.
86	* HugeGuyTinyGirl: A big and tough man is contrasted with a small and more delicate woman.
87	* HoneyTrap: A woman uses her feminine delicacy (real or feigned) to seduce or endear a man for sinister purposes. It works because this isn't the sort of fighting a tough manly man excels at.
88	* {{Hunk}}: A man who is sexy because of his masculinity.
89	* HuskyRusskie: Russian men are often portrayed as husky, hairy, manly men.
90	* IHaveBoobsYouMustObey: In which men can only think with their pants, so women naturally control them.
91	* IHaveYourWife: A woman is kidnapped to motivate a man (it can be inverted, but that is far less common). At least in modern Western culture it's the ''one person'' he's ''publicly'' sworn to give a damn about above all others, so his foe's choice is well made (or [[BerserkButton sometimes]] [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge not]], as the case may be).
92	* ImAManICantHelpIt: In which AManIsAlwaysEager, and should be excused for any dumb decision.
93	* IWantToBeARealMan: A man who lacks any of the any stereotypical "manly" traits wants them in order to become a "real man".
94	* JerkJock: The athletic bully, under the impression that athletically dominant men are also assholes. Usually paired with the AlphaBitch.
95	* JockDadNerdSon: An athletic or competitive dad has an academic or geeky son as a {{Foil}}.
96	* KavorkaMan: Horrible looks do not impede him from [[ReallyGetsAround getting around]].
97	* KidANova: A seductive boy.
98	* KnightInShiningArmor: An elegant or saintly knight comes to a lady's aid.
99	* TheLadysFavor: The favor of a special or noble lady is carried by a man during a difficult task.
100	* LadyAndKnight: A noble or special woman has a stalwart knight to accompany and defend her.
101	* LegCling: A StockPose in which a powerful man stands in a dominant fashion while a woman (usually under-dressed) clings to his leg in submissive, helpless fashion.
102	* LetHerGrowUpDear: A father exerts some sort of control over his daughter's life, because he doesn't want to trust her to make her own decisions. Often, the mother calls him out on this.
103	* LineageComesFromTheFather: A child's inheritance (whether [[HeirClubForMen material]] or [[LamarckWasRight genetic]]) comes from their father or his side of the family, rather than the mother's.
104	* LovedINotHonorMore: An aversion of the WetBlanketWife trope, where a hero has to go do something awesome or dangerous, and she has to StayInTheKitchen. They accept, however, that the awesome and dangerous things he does are exactly what makes him the good man that she loves.
105	* LukeIAmYourFather: An important character tells another important character that he's his dad.
106	* LukeIMightBeYourFather: An important character tells another character that it's possible that he's his dad.
107	* LukeYouAreMyFather: An important character is told by someone else that he's his father.
108	* MachoCamp: Over-the-top, exaggerated manliness. Often portrayed as a gay stereotype.
109	* MachoMasochism: When a man resorts to hurting himself just to prove he's tough.
110	* MaleMightFemaleFinesse: Guys are more likely to be huge and muscle-bound for straight-forward smashing while girls are more likely to be quicker on their feet and utilizing skill in their fighting. This contrast underscores how delicate the latter are; less able to endure a hit but less likely to ''be'' hit and also the thoughtfulness and care in their actions.
111	* ManicPixieDreamGirl: He's grounded, but boring. She's flighty, whimsical and CloserToEarth, and is on a mission to spice up his life.
112	* AManIsAlwaysEager: Ready for sex any day, any night, during tidal wave, in the midst of a plague of locusts, etc.
113	* ManlyFacialHair: Facial hair makes a man appear tough and masculine.
114	* ManlyGay: An aversion of CampGay. These men are manly and love men.
115	* ManlyMan: A man who's stereotypically masculine.
116	* MaritalRapeLicense: A trope of outdated morality, where a husband has a legal right and/or expectation to have sex with an unwilling wife, even if it means violently forcing her to. Sometimes gender-inverted, but that version is not as common.
117	* MasculineLinesFeminineCurves: Men are often drawn with rigid straight lines to demonstrate strength, while women are drawn with delicate, flexible curves.
118	* MasculinityTropes: A list of tropes in which masculinity is associated with being a badass.
119	* MealTicket: A successful or wealthy person (usually a man) who provides for their less-successful (and usually female) significant other.
120	* MenActWomenAre: Men accomplish everything within the setting; women are either scenery or support.
121	* MenAreBetterThanWomen: Women are ineffectual, dumb and weak, while men are just better at everything because they're physically tougher and mentally stronger.
122	* MenAreTheExpendableGender: Because men are tougher and "generic", they take the hits for the delicate, valuable women.
123	* MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial: A man in a fictional role needs some other trait to prove himself worthy of being in that role in some way. For women, merely being female itself is treated as special.
124	* MenAreStrongWomenArePretty: In which men are expected to demonstrate their toughness, while women are expected to demonstrate gentleness and delicateness in the form of beauty.
125	* MenAreUncultured: Since men are "tougher" and more suited for action and violence, they don't know the first thing about civility.
126	* MenCantKeepHouse: Guys don't know the first thing about keeping a domicile.
127	* MenDontCry: Only in the harshest of situations is crying acceptable.
128	* MenGetOldWomenGetReplaced: Female characters either stay forever young and/or beautiful, or they're removed from an active role in the story. Male characters stay involved even after they've grown old.
129	* MenLikeDogsWomenLikeCats: Men like dogs because they're rowdy and often used for work, while women like cats because they're delicate and graceful.
130	* MenUseViolenceWomenUseCommunication: Men struggle to solve any problem without violence, while women use savvy and communication.
131	* MessyMaleFancyFemale: Men (or male characters) are portrayed as unkempt or dirty to showcase their ruggedness or lack of domestication. Female characters are portrayed as clean and well-kept to showcase their beauty or lack of ruggedness.
132	* MonsterBrotherCutieSister: Men are tough, but they're ''tougher'' when they have a cute little sister to [[BigBrotherInstinct protect from other men.]]
133	* MostGamersAreMale: Men are the usual demographic when one thinks of "gamers", owing partly to their competitive nature, physical demands, and violent and/or sexual content.
134	* MotherNatureFatherScience: Nature is thought of as maternal and emotional, while science is thought of as paternal and cold.
135	* MountainMan: A rugged man of the wilderness.
136	* MyDadCanBeatUpYourDad: Two children (often both boys, not surprisingly) measure each other up by how tough their dads are.
137	* NoFathersAllowed: Fathers don't need to be involved in the upbringing of their children.
138	* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Men are supposed to pursue sex from women, not the other way around.
139	* NoTrueScotsman: There are the traits {{Stereotyp\|e}}ical of the "Real Man". Those who lack these traits are rejected.
140	* NoWomansLand: Every place outside of the main setting treats women deplorably, so it's the protagonist's job (mostly male) to save them.
141	* OfficerAndAGentleman: The pinnacle of a man of service; a man who is both adept in military and societal affairs.
142	* OldSchoolChivalry: The old-fashioned (perhaps seen as ''outdated'') practice of a gentleman looking after the well-being of a lady.
143	* PaleFemalesDarkMales: Men are shaded darker to demonstrate greater power/threat.
144	* ParentingTheHusband: A woman struggles to keep after her child-like husband.
145	* ThePatriarch: The powerful, stern head of a family or clan.
146	* PecFlex: Moving pec muscles used to demonstrate physical power.
147	* PermaStubble: An unkempt look used to show ruggedness, but not to the extend of a full-on beard.
148	* PervertDad: AllMenArePerverts. Becoming a father does not stop it.
149	* PinkGirlBlueBoy: A subtrope of PinkMeansFeminine, where boys are color-coded blue and girls pink because pink is considered "childish" or "disrespectful".
150	* PinkIsForSissies: When PinkMeansFeminine, guys will avoid the color, and be mocked if they can't.
151	* ThePornomancer: He can go from zero to bed in sixty seconds.
152	* PornStache: A bushy mustache worn by authoritarian men in The70s and The80s. It was associated with manliness and so was used a lot in porn, whereupon it thus became associated with porn.
153	* RagingStiffie: If a man is over-excited, over-eager, or high on hormones/adrenaline, his penis will be erect at all times to indicate that he's ready for sex.
154	* RatedMForManly: A plot which oozes masculinity, in the form of violence, badassery and sexual conquest.
155	* RealMenCanHunt: Real men kill things (proving their strength and dominance) that don't want to die.
156	* RealMenHateAffection: Real men only care about logic, competition, and strength, with no use for softer emotions.
157	* RealMenEatMeat: Real men eat dead animals, either for protein, or to become the dominant predator.
158	* RealMenGetShot: Real men take a bullet to prove their bravery. They survive and prove their toughness.
159	* RealMenHaveShortHair: Men keep their hair short, neat and practical, unlike the long, elaborate and delicate hairstyles women have.
160	* ARealManIsAKiller: A real man can take life and suffer few repercussions.
161	* RealMenHateSugar: Real men do not eat sweet or pleasant foods, to prove their toughness.
162	* RealMenTakeItBlack: Real men take their coffee without milk or sugar because these things weaken the flavor and this shows how tough they are.
163	* RemarriedToTheMistress: A husband with an extramarital lover simply replaces his dead wife with the other woman. Beyond sometimes treating women as interchangeable, this sort of practice is often more acceptable than the inverse, since women often aren't allowed to remarry, fewer have a choice of whom to marry, and [[{{Cuckold}} woman taking lovers is usually seen as the greatest of insults]].
164	* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: A man is the more resilient and stoic partner; the woman is energetic and flighty.
165	* {{Seme}}: The "man" in a {{Yaoi}} relationship is usually dominant, powerful, successful, and controlling.
166	* SlaveGalley: The inverse of MandatoryMotherhood. When a man is enslaved to put his power to use. Can apply to women, but is much less frequent.
167	* Standard50sFather: The wise, employed, masculine father of an ideal 1950s setting.
168	* StayInTheKitchen: A woman is barred from action and expected to stay on the sidelines.
169	* StoutStrength: Muscle and girth going hand-in-hand to demonstrate power.
170	* StraightGay: A gay man who behaves like a straight man, and thus, would never be considered gay unless demonstrated or stated.
171	* SupernaturalProofFather: In a Haunted House setting, the father is usually the most "stable", sceptical, and rational member of the family--to the point of blatantly ignoring the supernatural events around him. Contrast the HauntedHeroine.
172	* TalentedPrincessRegularGuy: This trope tends to team up a talented "princess" with a male character who is meant to be an AudienceSurrogate, due to his genericness.
173	* TeamDad: The disciplinarian and strategist of a team, as opposed to the gentle and insightful TeamMom.
174	* TellMeAboutMyFather: Children want to know more about the DisappearedDad. This is especially the case with sons, who typically see their father as TheParagon of masculinity and want to emulate him.
175	* TestesTest: If anything bad has happened to him, a man will check to make sure his scrotum (the essence of his manhood) is still intact.
176	* ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet: Because of the wild, savage and blunt nature of the internet, women are thought to be a rarity.
177	* TheThreeFacesOfAdam: Men are categorized as symbols of power: either a hunter, a lord, or a wise prophet.
178	* TimTaylorTechnology: A man thinks MORE POWER is the solution to everything.
179	* UglyGuyHotWife: One side of this trope reinforces the "Women are Pretty" cliché by having an attractive woman contrast with her ugly husband. Another side of this trope implies that a rich, powerful or successful man can have any kind of woman he wants.
180	* UnderstandingBoyfriend: A female character is freaking out or is very insecure about a perceived flaw that she has. However, once her LoveInterest is made aware of it, he doesn't care and his acceptance is enough to put her at peace.
181	* TheUnfairSex: Exceptions are made for women, under the assumption that it's safer or more fair for them, that wouldn't be made for men.
182	* WantedASonInstead: A parent wanted their child to be a boy; a holdover from the HeirClubForMen...
183	* WarIsGlorious: In works where war is viewed positively, men are viewed as manly for joining the military and fighting for their country while men who remain as citizens are frowned upon.
184	* WarriorPrince: A royal man who is also physically powerful.
185	* WetBlanketWife: TheHero has awesome, or dangerous, things to do but his LoveInterest pleads or nags him not to do it. Her reasons may be valid but they're not conducive to the plot.
186	* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Dad's gone, and the kids would like to know when he'll be back. He, naturally, has something big and important to do--raising kids is something for mom to do in the meantime.
187	* WhiteMaleLead: The most common protagonist template in Western media, as a consequence of men being considered the generic "default". It may also be a [[WhiteAngloSaxonProtestant WASP]]. It falls under the "men are dominant" aspect of this trope because part of the dominant/centrist attitudes toward men comes from how normalized it is to see them as the center of a story or the person who drives a story. White Male Lead specifically does that, and has become so normalized that trying to get rid of it creates hostility and backlash.
188	* WomenAreWiser: Men are merely blunt instruments, while women do all the thinking.
189	* WinHerAPrize: A boy tries to win his date a prize to impress her with his charity, cleverness or ability.
190	* WifeHusbandry: A much older man is involved in the raising/development of a young girl he plans to eventually take as a wife. It is widely ridiculed in most 21st century societies because of the inherent power imbalance and called an example of overbearing patriarchy.
191	* WomenPreferStrongMen: The implication that women are always attracted to shows of power and dominance--especially physical force and musculature.
192	* WorldOfMuscleMen: A trope that almost always has a DoubleStandard where every man is heavily muscled but the same never applies to women.
193	* WorldsStrongestMan: While all men are tough, this one is the toughest of the lot!
194	* WoundedGazelleGambit: A woman feigns injury or weakness to frame someone else (typically a man). As the page explains, "If you saw a wounded gazelle and a lion in a clearing, who would you believe?" Because men are tough and brutish, they are typically seen as the lion.
195	* WouldntHitAGirl: Because he's tough and she's delicate, a real man refuses to hit a woman, no matter the reason.
196	[[/folder]]
197
198	[[folder:Aversions, Inversions, and Subversions]]
199	* ActionGirlfriend: A girlfriend who is more badass than her boyfriend.
200	* AgentPeacock: A [[InTouchWithHisFeminineSide sensitive guy]]/man who is also an Action Guy.
201	* {{Bishonen}}: When a man is just as beautiful as most women in East Asian media.
202	* CampStraight: A male who behaves in a girlish manner and is heterosexual.
203	* DistressedDude: A man needs rescuing--a role that women usually play in fiction.
204	* FemaleFighterMaleHandler: The female is the one who gets in the action and the male is the one who handles/supports her instead otherwise.
205	* GenderEqualEnsemble: A cast of characters that is equally male and female (and possibly transgender as well).
206	* GenderIsNoObject: A true aversion of this trope. For example, a boy who is just as much a [[TheFashionista Fashionista]] in a movie/show about clothes. This trope becomes less of an aversion in media where toughness is a virtue, such as a FightingSeries, because of the different styles mentioned above.
207	* GenderNormativeParentPlot: A boy has a feminine hobby, but someone else (usually his father) wants him to be manly.
208	* HeterosexualLifePartners: When men avert RealMenHateAffection, and show an emotional side toward their fellow man, [[HoYay but not in THAT way.]]
209	* {{Househusband}}: A man who does the housekeeping while his wife is the breadwinner. This is considered atypical of gender roles.
210	* InTouchWithHisFeminineSide: A man gets in touch with his inner delicateness. Depending on how many feminine traits he posses, he could range from a GentleGiant, BruiserWithASoftCenter, an EmotionalBruiser, a WarriorPoet and other types.
211	* LongHairedPrettyBoy: A PrettyBoy has glossy long hair because LongHairIsFeminine.
212	* MasculineGirlFeminineBoy: When a more masculine, tough, or butch girl is matched up with a more feminine guy for contrast.
213	* MisterSeahorse: A man carries a child the way women do, encountering many of the same delicate problems and issues.
214	* MistressAndServantBoy: A woman who exudes power, prestige, or professionalism over a submissive male servant.
215	* MoreDeadlyThanTheMale: Because women are typically portrayed as more delicate or weak, situations where men are the delicate sex are considered odd, quaint, or scary. Alternatively, because men are so tough they stick to beating things up while women use something craftier like poison.
216	* NonActionGuy: A man who is not combat, action, or adventure adept. It's common in RealLife but considered odd for fiction.
217	* OneOfTheGirls: A man is mostly or primarily friends with women; often times the man in question is on the low end of masculinity.
218	* PrettyBoy: When a man is just as beautiful as most women in Western media.
219	* RealMenWearPink: Manly men get away with doing un-masculine things.
220	* SinkOrSwimFatherhood: This guy doesn't know the first thing about being a father, but he needs to learn fast. Commonly, the character is some [[MenAreUncultured undomesticated bachelor]] who's never even put thought into this sort of thing.
221	* StrongGirlSmartGuy: The female partner within a duo is more physically powerful than the male, who instead uses more intellect and tact.
222	* {{Uke}}: This man is the more feminine and submissive lover in a gay relationship.
223	* WeaknessTurnsHerOn: A woman is attracted to men who are weaker than herself.
224	[[/folder]]
225
226	[[folder:Zig-Zagged]]
227	'''Tropes in this section tend to showcase a man with both tough qualities and more delicate ones, or two or more characters with juxtaposing characteristics.'''
228	* ActionHeroBabysitter: A man is cast in the nurturing role of caretaker, but using tough, badass skills to get the job done. It is typically PlayedForLaughs.
229	* AllGaysArePromiscuous: The logic of this trope is that gay men are still ''men'', and thus still only want sex, but "marriage" is only for straight couples. Thus, gay men (and sometimes women) have "free rein" to act as promiscuously as they dare.
230	* AllTheGoodMenAreGay: A character or narrative insists that all or most straight men are lustful, aggressive, and filled with TestosteronePoisoning. Therefore, women can more easily find a compassionate, wise, and sensitive guy if he's gay and thus InTouchWithHisFeminineSide. The female character that feels this way might become a FagHag with lots of platonic gay friends, or she might attempt to [[CureYourGays "turn a good man straight"]].
231	* BeardOfSorrow: A manly way of showing emotions, usually used to show that [[MenAreUncultured he's lost touch with society]] and let his appearance slide.
232	* BigGuyLittleGuy: A partnership between a huge guy (usually DumbMuscle) and a smaller guy (usually the [[BrainsAndBrawn Brains]]).
233	* BromanticFoil: A raunchy, headstrong, and often perverted male friend or companion which makes another male (usually the protagonist) look well-adjusted or normal by comparison.
234	* CasanovaWannabe: A man who believes he's a ladies man, but has substantial flaws in his approach.
235	* CaughtComingHomeLate: A husband sneaks home after doing some sort of activity his wife disapproves of and thinks he's gotten away with it until he hits the light switch and she's standing in wait. Simultaneously reinforces that husbands are untrustworthy/immature liars and cheats, and that wives are nagging shrews.
236	* CompensatingForSomething: A man who lacks a stereotypical component of an ideal man (usually [[BiggerIsBetterInBed penis size]]) compensates for his lacking in some other stereotypical manner.
237	* {{Cuckold}}: A man whose woman is having sex with another person(s). The "Bull" (her lover) is almost '''always''' another man [[GirlOnGirlIsHot because otherwise the effect is lessened]]. Her infidelity is played for the humiliation and emasculation of the cuckolded man, the sexual depravity of the wife, and to portray the Bulls as "superior" men. The scenario is used for the titillation of the audience. The cultural implication is that any man who fails to satisfy his wife, and "tame" her, is less of a man while the men that succeed are "real" men.
238	** {{Netorare}}: A fan term for Japanese cuckold porn.
239	* DroitDuSeigneur: A new bride is forced to spend her honeymoon with a more powerful nobleman before she is "returned" to her new husband. Subtrope of {{Cuckold}}.
240	* EmotionalBruiser: A badass who fights with his emotions on his sleeve. It's considered unusual for pragmatic, stoic and tough males.
241	* GentlemanAndAScholar: A man who is both educated and adept in culture. He may be a NonActionGuy, but he is also rational, stable, and elegant.
242	* GiveGeeksAChance: A plot in which a geeky, unmanly guy has trouble gaining female companionship. Until he finds [[NotLikeOtherGirls the one girl]] who is different, or otherwise proves that he is manly or successful enough to "deserve" a girl. Rarely gender-inverted.
243	* HotGuyUglyWife: Considered a rare and ironic inversion to the UglyGuyHotWife trope; if a wife isn't sexually attractive, then her value as a mate is considered diminished.
244	* HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday: A man reminds everyone that he is not homosexual, [[AndThatsTerrible because that would be "terrible".]]
245	* IWasBeatenByAGirl: Being beaten by a girl is considered insulting for a tough guy.
246	* LittleGuyBigBuddy: A small character (not necessarily a guy) is accompanied by a huge, powerful friend as a protector (''usually'' a guy).
247	* LoserGetsTheGirl: Two men fight over a woman, but unexpectedly, the one that wins isn't the one that gets her. The trope still treats the woman as a "prize", with the subversion being that the dominant one isn't the one awarded.
248	* ManlyTears: Men crying or showing tears. However, these men are usually not shown as emotionally broken or distraught, and only as a moment of "weakness" or irrationality.
249	* NobleMaleRoguishMale: A contrast between a more socially-adept and proper man, and a rebellious, roguish outsider. The idea is to compare two models of masculinity.
250	* NonActionSnarker: A man who is not physically tough, but compensates for it with an abrasive or cynical attitude.
251	* PapaWolf: A man who fights to defend his younger charges or children. Usually the go-to portrayal for a fatherly role in an action setting.
252	* PrinceCharming: A dashing, handsome man who arrives to romance and/or rescue a waiting female.
253	* PrinceCharmingWannabe: He's not as dashing/handsome as he believes. The woman may scoff at his rescue.
254	* PrinceCharmless: A prince that has no tact, social skills, or charms whatsoever.
255	* RealMenCook: Manliness is paramount to being able to use fire to prepare food. Cooking is [[FeminineWomenCanCook is usually associated with feminine traits]], but in this case, the ability to master such a skill is considered manly. (For example: in fiction, maids and housewives can cook, but a Master Chef is usually male.)
256	* SamusIsAGirl: A tough and badass character appears and, to everyone's shock, reveals that they are a girl.
257	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Two men that contrast each other in regards to toughness.
258	* ShirtlessCaptives: A male character is taken hostage and stripped from the waist up. An AlwaysMale trope because [[NippleAndDimed topless women don't have the same impact]].
259	* TestosteronePoisoning: Parodies of manliness meant to draw laughs instead of awe.
260	* {{Ukefication}}: A powerful or tough guy is assigned stereotypical {{Uke}} traits in order to ship him into a romantic relationship (usually with another man).
261	* WouldHitAGirl: Hitting a female is considered reprehensible, no matter the reason, but not hitting a guy. This character would hit both.
262	[[/folder]]
263
264	[[folder:Played With]]
265	'''Tropes in this section are tangentially related to this trope, in that they likely would not exist if this trope was not the default assumption. These tropes are typically "exceptions" to this trope--but with some sort of baggage that examines the negative consequences of men failing to be tough, or the benefits of measuring women that have the same capability of men. However, the relation has become woven with so many societal complexities that they cannot directly be considered subtropes or aversions.'''
266	* BadassFamily: Similar to BattleCouple, but with every member of the family being just as awesome.
267	* BattleCouple: In heterosexual relationships, having both a man and woman that are tough is treated as remarkable.
268	* BestedAtBowling: A man thinks he'll do great at bowling, but his female friend outperforms him.
269	* BrainsAndBrawn: When paired with WomenAreWiser, MenAreTough becomes the brawn half of this trope. Also can be used in arguments in defense of brawn and against brains, as in "Reading books isn't manly. Real men are tough."
270	* BumblingDad: A man is portrayed as incompetent at a domestic task like raising children.
271	* CampGay: An effeminate man who is attracted to men.
272	* DoggedNiceGuy: A NiceGuy who is interested in a female companionship, but is stuck in the FriendZone.
273	* {{Dominatrix}}: A woman dominates a man, but solely for the sexual fetish.
274	* EffeminateMisogynisticGuy: A misogynist who hates women despite displaying the stereotypical characteristics of one. Perhaps to show that he can do it "better".
275	* EunuchsAreEvil: A man missing his genitalia who is portrayed as evil. The association can imply that those traits go hand-in-hand.
276	* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: No matter how evil he becomes, he still cares for the woman who nurtured him.
277	* FatSlob: A man who is [[MenAreUncultured uncultured,]] slovenly, and overweight.
278	* FemaleGroinInvincibility: Females are immune to {{groin attack}}s; usually used as an "empowering" moment for a female character versus her male counterparts.
279	* FetishizedAbuser: A man mistreats his fragile girlfriend (or a less sociopathic boyfriend), but it's played for the titillation of a female audience. Alternatively, an abusive, creepy, or violent woman is played for fetish.
280	* GeniusBruiser: Defying the notion that strength or toughness equals stupidity. However, this trope would not exist if DumbMuscle wasn't common as well. It's also possible have both DumbMuscle ''and'' a GeniusBruiser in the same story.
281	* HenpeckedHusband: A husband who is nagged, abused, or derided by his wife. It implies that the man is weak-willed, and/or that his wife is irrational or bitter.
282	* JadedWashout: His glory days have passed long ago, and he cannot adjust to a new life.
283	* LadykillerInLove: Being a [[TheCasanova Casanova]] comes at odds with finding a OneTrueLove. Again, it carries the connotations that a sexually-aggressive man is unused to more delicate or romantic feelings.
284	* LazyHusband: A man is portrayed as a do-nothing while his wife does all of the work both in home and out.
285	* LiteralManeater: A cannibalistic or monstrous female character who lures unsuspecting men to her so that they'll become her dinner.
286	* TheLoinsSleepTonight: Erectile dysfunction, impotency, or other inabilities to sexually perform is a mark of shame for a man.
287	* MagicalGirlfriend: A man who is normal or unremarkable meets a powerful supernatural woman. She may or may not become subservient to him.
288	* MommasBoy: A man who is either subservient or extremely protective of his mother.
289	* MyBelovedSmother: A son who is nagged, abused, or derided by his mother. It's implied that the man is weak-willed, and/or that his mother is irrational or bitter.
290	* {{NEET}}: A college-aged male who is portrayed as a ButtMonkey, due to being a do-nothing layabout with no ambitions.
291	* NerdNanny: A bunch of nerdy guys who have NoSocialSkills are often accompanied by a beautiful, popular, decidedly ''non-geeky'' girl who would otherwise be considered "out of their league".
292	* PowerHair: Feminine traits are seen as weak or undesirable in positions of power, so a woman in that position cuts her hair to be more masculine.
293	* RookieMaleExperiencedFemale: A male character (typically an {{Everyman}} AudienceSurrogate) is new to the setting of the story opposite of his veteran female companion. But commonly, this leads her to become a QuicklyDemotedWoman.
294	* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: A man that screams like a vulnerable, terrified woman for comedic effect or contrast.
295	* SissyVillain: A villain who is campy, effeminate, and evil. The association can imply that those traits go hand-in-hand.
296	* TheSlacker: Men in a domestic or social setting are shown as do-nothing layabouts. It has become a more reoccurring trope in modern fiction, as the {{Everyman}} has gained popularity.
297	* SpeedSex: A man who climaxes too fast during sex is lacking what it takes to be a satisfactory sex partner, possibly opening the door for her to cheat or leave him.
298	* StrawMisogynist: An extreme misogynist that goes way over the top in bashing women or femininity. Used to push the point that [[AndThatsTerrible misogyny is really, really bad]], but lacks any sort of ambiguity.
299	* TeenyWeenie: A man with a small penis is considered to be "less manly".
300	* TinySchoolboy: A preteen or teenage boy who's shorter than all the other kids his age and is embarrassed about it. Since TallDarkAndHandsome is universally seen as attractive and manly, this character sticks out more and is an easy target of being teased and not being taken seriously by potential female partners.
301	* UnluckyEverydude: An [[TheEveryman Everyman]] who does not know his way with women and generally incompetent in other areas. It's usually implying that this is the typical male condition. While it demonstrates a discomfort with women which is far from the idealized manly man, the "unlucky" portion also implies that this is a bad thing.
302	* UnmanlySecret: A man who strives to be manly has a secret which reveals him to be InTouchWithHisFeminineSide.
303	* UselessBoyfriend: A man does nothing to assist in day-to-day life with his far more pragmatic and forward-thinking girlfriend.
304	[[/folder]]
305
306	[[/index]]
307	----

Context Main / MenAreTough