ABSTRACT
Since the early 1970s, North Americans have been reading about a men's movement. The social reality for men in North American society is to be masculine or, more accurately, to adopt one of the many masculinities that are available to men. There are many ways of being a man, although masculinities are not all equally approved or equally condemned, and not all masculinities are approved by the same people. Roles, stereotypes, and ideals tend not to become too disparate, however, because stereotypes are partially formed through perceptions of roles, and ideals and stereotypes serve as guides in developing gender roles. Certain masculinities are favoured socially or come closer to the gender ideal. Boys are taught to adopt these social roles and ideals. Raw descriptions of reality are not very interesting in themselves. Moral conservatives admire and protect social institutions and practices that they find grounded in the traditions of society.
