ABSTRACT
Men learn to look out for themselves, relying on their own wits and brawn. They do not want to answer to any boss. Rugged individualistic males aggressively defend their own turf. Hiding their emotions, they ride tall in the saddle. This pioneering aspect of masculinity, which Marc Gerzon labelled ‘frontiersman’ (1982), is deeply embedded in cultural norms in the United States, a country developed by European immigrants who carved their homes out of the wilderness. Early settlers in this country foraged for themselves in the rich natural environments of this continent. Male farmers, craftsmen and hunters relied on their own brute strength and ingenuity to make a living. This aspect of the male psyche emulates fictional heroes who bear pain through battles and do not complain about wounds. Rugged individuals, like Hercules, they accomplish enormous tasks with ease. Film stars like John Wayne, Charles Bronson, and Clint Eastwood portray this aspect of masculinity and like the fictional character, Shane, ride off into the horizon after they have accomplished their missions.
