The masculinity exemplified by Beowulf "cut men off from women, other men, passion and the household". Tolkien) that Beowulf is a tale of medieval heroism overlooks the similarities between Beowulf and the monster Grendel. According to David Rosen, the traditional view of scholars (such as J. Courage, respect for women of all classes and generosity characterize the portrayal of men in literary history.
Jeffrey Richards describes a European "medieval masculinity which was essentially Christian and chivalric".
In his rage Arminius demanded war against the Roman empire. Tacitus presented the Germanic warrior Arminius as a masculine hero in his account of ancient Germany whose already violent nature was further heightened by the abduction of his beloved wife Thusnelda by the Roman general Germanicus. "It stands on record that armies already wavering and on the point of collapse have been rallied by the women, pleading heroically with their men, thrusting forward their bared bosoms, and making them realize the imminent prospect of enslavement - a fate which the Germans fear more desperately for their women than for themselves." -Tacitus (Germania) In his book Germania (98 AD), Tacitus stated that the men from the ancient Germanic tribes fought aggressively in battle to protect their women from capture by the enemy. In the Hebrew Bible of 1000 BC, when King David of Israel drew near to death, he told his son Solomon: "I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man".
According to the Code of Hammurabi (about 1750 BC): : 185 Antiquity Īncient literature dates back to about 3000 BC, with explicit expectations for men in the form of laws and implied masculine ideals in myths of gods and heroes. : 1–3 Since what constitutes masculinity has varied by time and place, according to Raewyn Connell, it is more appropriate to discuss "masculinities" than a single overarching concept. The concept of masculinity varies historically and culturally. Those exhibiting both masculine and feminine characteristics are considered androgynous, and feminist philosophers have argued that gender ambiguity may blur gender classification.
People regardless of biological sex may exhibit masculine traits and behavior. This has sparked investigation of the intersection of masculinity with concepts from other fields, such as the social construction of gender difference (prevalent in a number of philosophical and sociological theories). The academic study of masculinity received increased attention during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the number of courses on the subject in the United States rising from 30 to over 300. When women’s labor participation increased, there were men who felt less comfortable in their masculinity because it was increasingly difficult for them to reconfirm their status as the breadwinner. Traits traditionally viewed as masculine in Western society include strength, courage, independence, leadership, and assertiveness. Standards of manliness or masculinity vary across different cultures, subcultures, ethnic groups and historical periods. Masculine qualities and roles are considered typical of, appropriate for, and expected of boys and men. Lewis Hine's photo of a power house mechanic working on a steam pump