Muddled Manhood
I’ve never felt like I was a good fit for the manhood construct that was foisted upon me from my earliest days. I hear the other dads talk of fishing boats, construction victories, and a tough veneer—and I tense up, look away, avoiding any chance that I’ll be pulled into their discussion.
Growing up, I always identified more with “feminine” traits. Even in marriage, my communication style was backward from the entrenched stereotypes.
I grew up loving sports, trained in martial arts for several years, and followed most boyhood paths. My sexual preference is categorically heterosexual. I possess the blind arrogance of most men, in that I feel like I could whoop anyone who needed a righteous whooping.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Subversive Lens Newsletter to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.