# Why are American men generally more manly than European men? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563 "2013-06-21T16:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/21 "2013-06-21T18:36:01Z")
Every one of these points could be flipped on its head. \*Why do American men dress like toddlers, in t-shirts, baggy shorts and sneakers? Why can’t they dress like grown men? Americans are so uncomfortable dressing like men that they invented “Casual Friday” to avoid it. \*Why do American men favor sugary drinks, like adolescents do? Why do so many drink watered down “coffee” instead of a manly espresso like Italians do? \*You know what’s a manly sport - bullfighting. But it has never and will never take off in America because America is a sissified culture. \*Americans drive tank-like vehicles because they’re pussies who want to be protected at all costs from any chance of getting hurt in a minor traffic accident. \*Americans cower individually in their protective homes, too scared and immature to band together and form strong social movements. \*Americans cling to their guns because they’re wusses who can’t solve their disputes man-to-man. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/22 "2013-06-21T18:44:12Z")
I think that the op.s totally right, speaking as a Brit we all of us look up to the Americans as being the epitome of rough, tough masculinity. And as you say, Americans respect cowboys, also I believe Red Indians, motorcycle cops, leather fetishists and construction workers ! If ever you’re visiting Europe do help us out by going into a Brit, or an Irish pub and helping us “up” our masculine image. I’m sure you’ll be warmly received . ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/23 "2013-06-21T18:51:02Z")
OP, please ask this question of a few French rugby forwards. A Glaswegian. A mafia man. A Russian or Swede ice hockey player. A rural Finn. ---
**Author:** ![chewsick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@chewsick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chewsick)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/24 "2013-06-21T19:04:13Z")
All the “European” (whatever that means) stereotypes could be applied to US hipsters or whatever they call themselves. I think they are pretty stupid myself – regardless of who is wearing the tight pants and mincing around – but don’t kid yourself that there are a lot of Western Europeans with a military background who will definitely kick some ass. +1 to soccer – I don’t know anyone except chicks who thinks soccer players are any kind of exemplar of athleticism. Nor are NFL players. I’d put an Irish rugby player up against anyone (or an Ivan Drago hockey player, for that matter). Even the Irish jockeys are pretty nasty little creatures – I wouldn’t want to mess with anyone involved. Speaking as a pretty macho American with pretty wimpy tastes in music and literature (French impressionist music and poetry) and food, but I feel right at home anywhere in the country in France, without having to mince around trying to “pass” for a “European” – these guys fucking butcher hogs for sport and drink their blood and the women bring the men wine, and they don’t drink it out of teacups either. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/25 "2013-06-21T19:11:30Z")
I love this OP. Particularly this: > [@davidborts](#): > > Europeans drink wine and eat salads and healthy paninis in small portions. and this: > [@](#): > > Europeans like soccer, which is considered a girls sport in America. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/26 "2013-06-21T19:25:13Z")
I think soccer is mostly ignored in America. I do feel that’s changing, at least as far as being a casual fan goes. It seems to be a niche occupied by a certain band of people, though. I’ve never associated it with girls, though. ---
**Author:** ![tbook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tbook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tbook)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/27 "2013-06-21T19:27:42Z")
John Wayne: “I made up my mind that I was going to play a real man to the best of my ability. I felt many of the Western stars of the twenties and thirties were too goddamn perfect. They never drank or smoked. They never wanted to go to bed with a beautiful girl. They never had a fight. A heavy might throw a chair at them, and they just looked surprised and didn’t fight in this spirit. They were too goddamn sweet and pure to be dirty fighters. Well, I wanted to be a dirty fighter if that was the only way to fight back. If someone throws a chair at you, hell, you pick up a chair and belt him right back. I was trying to play a man who gets dirty, who sweats sometimes, who enjoys kissing a gal he likes, who gets angry, who fights clean whenever possible but will fight dirty if he has to. You could say I made the Western hero a roughneck.” ---
**Author:** ![chewsick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@chewsick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chewsick)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/28 "2013-06-21T19:27:50Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I love this OP. Well, I don’t, because the OP’s statement could easily be turned on its head to say “why are European women more feminine and pretty without sacrifice of intellectual rigor?” Than their American counterparts, who, to my view, are bullish, pig-headed, and more concerned with appearances than embracing their femininity. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/29 "2013-06-21T19:29:12Z")
> [@](#): > > European men dress much more flamboyant and feminine. Something that would be considered stylish for a man to wear in Europe would often be considered “gay” in America. From capris for men to tighter shirts and pants and those girly Puma shoes, Europeans don’t look as manly as American in fashion. Americans prefer loose jeans and big shirts and big masculine looking shoes. “Big masculine shoes”? > [@](#): > > Europeans drink wine and eat salads and healthy paninis in small portions. Americans drink beer and eat red meat and chilli in huge hearty and masculine portions. There are 9 European countries with beer consumption rates higher then the US. The Czech republic has almost twice the consumption rate of the US. I’m pretty sure Americans eat salad. > [@](#): > > America respects the cowboys, the lone ranger, the rugged individualist who uses his guns to dominate the opposition and rule over his domain. Europe respects the socialite intellectual, who uses words and social connections to make his mark. Most of the best cowboy movies were made by Italians. [quote] [li]American men love guns. Most European men don’t even know how to use guns.[/li][/QUOTE] Switzarland has a higher gun ownership rate then the US. ---
**Author:** ![davidborts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f17d59/32.png) [@davidborts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidborts)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/30 "2013-06-21T19:37:09Z")
> [@chewsick](#): > > +1 to soccer – I don’t know anyone except chicks who thinks soccer players are any kind of exemplar of athleticism. Nor are NFL players. I’d put an Irish rugby player up against anyone (or an Ivan Drago hockey player, for that matter). Even the Irish jockeys are pretty nasty little creatures – I wouldn’t want to mess with anyone involved. > > Speaking as a pretty macho American with pretty wimpy tastes in music and literature (French impressionist music and poetry) and food, but I feel right at home anywhere in the country in France, without having to mince around trying to “pass” for a “European” – these guys fucking butcher hogs for sport and drink their blood and the women bring the men wine, and they don’t drink it out of teacups either. [Jealous Amerifat detected](http://www.ronaldo7.net/news/2012/cristiano-ronaldo-493-soccer-player-luis-nani-six-pack-abs-body-muscles-while-being-shirtless.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/31 "2013-06-21T19:40:48Z")
The more I read the OP, the less sure I am of what side of the fence he’s on. ---
**Author:** ![chewsick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@chewsick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chewsick)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/32 "2013-06-21T19:44:18Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > “Big masculine shoes”? Yeah, exactly. I don’t know what these famous “Puma shoes” are, but French police agents humbled me a few times precisely because of their immaculate, tough boots. I’m not talking about skinheads – these cats had a lot more invested in their shoes than I had in my hair, teeth, and glasses combined at all moments. As though Americans aren’t fond of their basketball shoes. Just ask Fletch. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/33 "2013-06-21T19:48:38Z")
I don’t know about any other europeans on here but I want some masculine shoes. Big ones no less. I now realise that mine are somehow effeminate and more than a little gay, shame on me. To the OP, how big do my big shoes have to be? do I just need to increase the heel height or do I need to buy a pair three or four sizes too big? Should there be a weapon concealed within? This is all very confusing to me. I thought I was a man. I thought that soccer was a manly sport. That time that I was booted full in the face by my team-mate and broke my nose but played for the rest of the game. Or when I broke my radius and ulna and completed the next 80 minutes of play. Or when I dislocated my elbow and collarbone and played on. I mean, I felt compelled to play on because all my sporting life I’ve been around europeans that played on in exactly those circumstances and worse so I just thought that was common practice. I see I was wrong . Next time I play I’m going to shoot myself in my kneecap before kick-off just so that I earn my man-wings. At least I would shoot myself but I haven’t got a gun. I am such a fucking wuss. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/34 "2013-06-21T19:50:30Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > The more I read the OP, the less sure I am of what side of the fence he’s on. Me too. He reminds me of another poster, sadly no longer of this parish, who posted threads on similar themes, but this is a bit of a twist on that approach. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/35 "2013-06-21T19:51:54Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I think that the op.s totally right, speaking as a Brit we all of us look up to the Americans as being the epitome of rough, tough masculinity. ‘And that’s just their _women!_’ _rimshot_ ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/36 "2013-06-21T19:53:16Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I don’t know about any other europeans on here but I want some masculine shoes. Big ones no less. > I now realise that mine are somehow effeminate and more than a little gay, shame on me. > > To the OP, how big do my big shoes have to be? do I just need to increase the heel height or do I need to buy a pair three or four sizes too big? Should there be a weapon concealed within? > > This is all very confusing to me. I thought I was a man. I thought that soccer was a manly sport. That time that I was booted full in the face by my team-mate and broke my nose but played for the rest of the game. Or when I broke my radius and ulna and completed the next 80 minutes of play. Or when I dislocated my elbow and collarbone and played on. I mean, I felt compelled to play on because all my sporting life I’ve been around europeans that played on in exactly those circumstances and worse so I just thought that was common practice. > > I see I was wrong . Next time I play I’m going to shoot myself in my kneecap before kick-off just so that I earn my man-wings. At least I would shoot myself but I haven’t got a gun. I am such a fucking wuss. Well you’re no Bert Trautmann. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/37 "2013-06-21T20:00:12Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > That time that I was booted full in the face by my team-mate and broke my nose but played for the rest of the game. Or when I broke my radius and ulna and completed the next 80 minutes of play. Or when I dislocated my elbow and collarbone and played on. Have you considered playing with people who like you more? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/38 "2013-06-21T20:03:30Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Switzarland has a higher gun ownership rate then the US. You mean because all Swiss men are part of the armed forces and are required to own their own guns and ammo? But that aside, they don’t drive Hummers or giant pickups with a kid pissing on the brand they don’t like, which is what real men do. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/39 "2013-06-21T20:03:53Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > This is all very confusing to me. I thought I was a man. I thought that soccer was a manly sport. That time that I was booted full in the face by my team-mate and broke my nose but played for the rest of the game. Or when I broke my radius and ulna and completed the next 80 minutes of play. Or when I dislocated my elbow and collarbone and played on. I mean, I felt compelled to play on because all my sporting life I’ve been around europeans that played on in exactly those circumstances and worse so I just thought that was common practice. I’ve played Sunday league too man. (((my broken ribs))) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563/40 "2013-06-21T20:12:54Z")
[quote=“davidborts, post:1, topic:661563”] [li]Europeans drink wine and eat salads and healthy paninis in small portions.[/li][/QUOTE] Hell boy, after you git done with that there appetizer, come on over and we’ll barbecue a whole steer. Shot it dead and drug it home with mah F-150. What a collection of stereotypes, sheesh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-american-men-generally-more-manly-than-european-men/661563.md?page=3)