Many different people have very different perceptions of what it means to be a man. Since the beginning of history, different cultures have had different perspectives on how to be a man and what a man is. The definition of man ranged from ability, performance and behavior. Some see manliness as foolish, domineering behavior. Others see being a man as being a strong and courageous individual. This second version of manhood is what all men should strive to be, but it is not the most widely accepted version of manhood. The common stereotype of being a man can have many consequences on society and on men themselves. A good portion of Americans have a more negative perception of the definition of manhood. Many Americans see being a man as always being emotionless, always ready to fight, and always having to be on top of things. Theroux describes in his essay that any study could find that the process of being a man is right-wing, cowardly, and neurotic (224). Many parents try to adapt their children to this American perspective. Many parents force many competitive sports and many other methods just to satisfy this stereotype. Theroux describes his experience as a child. As a teenager, he was pushed and prodded to take up sports, play outdoors more often, join scouts and even read less. This shows the urgency parents had to raise their children to fit the stereotypical perspective of a man. Parents even went so far as to send their boys to boys' camp if they asked too many questions about their gender or became a bit "abnormal" for them. Theroux talks about the difference in how boys and girls are raised. “In a way, little girls are traditionally invited to please adults with a kind of coque… middle of paper… change for the better and for the worse. However, current beliefs prevail that being a man means being domineering and ignorant. The only way to determine that this changes is to try to take on a different role as a man. Violence against women and other groups will continue as long as men try to fit the stereotype. Men themselves must take the first step to break the stereotype; when that happens, the possibilities will be endless. Works Cited Theroux, Paul. “Being a Man” “The Norton Reader” New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2008. 223-225. Print.Ulbrich, David J. “The Image of Man: The Creation of Modern Masculinity. Journal of Men'sStudies, 1997. Web. 3 June 2010. Oystein G Holter. “Proving Manhood: Reflections on Men and Sexism. Contemporary Sociology, 1998. Web. 3 June. 2010.