Where Did The Real Men Go?

By Shirley Genga

I remember when I was a little girl, I used to look at my father and think that no one could possibly be stronger than him. He was the ultimate man’s man.

When anything went wrong, he did not have to talk. All he had to do was be around, and I knew without a doubt that everything was taken care of.

He had a force and a presence about him that oozed protector and very proud head of the home. He was, and still is, the most responsible, dependable and purposeful man I know.

And so when I began dating, little green me was on the lookout for a ‘real man’ — not just any man but a testosterone oozing man who looked like and acted like a man.

I, however, quickly learnt that I had not gotten the memo that probably read something like: “All the real men are extinct and in their place are feminine-like male representatives who you can discuss feelings and share lip-gloss with.”

I am perplexed and scared, and if you are not, you should be. Someone needs to open up a school or maybe, host some seminars and teach men how to be manly. The unmanly man is quickly becoming an epidemic. It is a movement that is spreading like fire and taking over the world.  Manhood faces a crisis akin to what our elephants are going through.

I mean, when you see James Bond puckering his lips look sexy, you know we have a problem.

Women today, whether married or single, often are finding themselves with half-baked men who tragically would not know what it meant to be a man, if it hit them in the face.

If I have to date one more so called “modern” and “open minded” man who does not feel like his manhood is on the chopping block when I pay the bill, I may just go off men for good.

These days, if you are not dealing with the fruity men who want to dress, look and smell like women — in the name of being ‘forward thinking’ and metrosexual — you are dealing with a man who looks like a man and talks like one, but wants to reject and runaway from all the responsibilities that comes with being a man, comfortable to let you lead and protect him.

Once upon a time, we lived in a world where a woman was a woman and a man was a man. It was that precise. Black was black and white was white. But these days we seem to be in limbo, delving daily into undefined grey areas.

Can we, women, do all the things men can do? Yes we can, but where is the fun in that? Plus we need men — real men.

And I am sure if you ask any woman what type of man she wants, she will give you a long list, but the central requirement will be a ‘manly man’.

I know there are still manly and rugged men out there, who understand the words ‘responsibility, to provide’.  Please kick these windy jokers who give ‘real men’ a bad name.