Can't find a man manlier than these men. I dare you to try, man.
"I am a man, a manly man! This is what men sound like! We are men! Rough, rebellious men!"
— Jednote , KilplixNFriends
A Manly Man is a male character who embodies stereotypical standards of masculinity.
There are a variety of ways to write manly characters, though there are some common trends that draw from the broad perception of Men Are Tough:
- Appearance:
- He'll be designed to evoke strength and toughness, which will generally land him on the large and/or muscular side of the scale. If he's intended to be attractive, he'll be a Hunk, and if he's a good guy he'll have a Heroic Build with a Lantern Jaw of Justice, but Stout Strength is also an option.
- Unless he's bald, he'll probably be hairy — see Carpet of Virility, Manly Facial Hair. In modern media, Real Men Have Short Hair and Perma-Stubble — unless it's for a warrior culture (the manliest type of culture), and then he'll have long, messy hair and a beard to match.
- Don't expect him to invest too much in grooming besides the occasional shave, since Vanity Is Feminine.
- Clothing-wise, he's likely to wear a suit, longcoat, military uniform, hunting gear or a lumberjack outfit. For hard physical activity, he may go shirtless or wear a sleeveless tank top that shows off his muscular arms. Historical or fantasy examples may wear armor or pelts, but sometimes just a simple Loincloth.
- Personality:
- Traditionally, the ideal man is expected to be honorable, brave, and chivalrous. However, the association of masculinity with aggression can lead to less-than-gentlemanly examples, such as the Jerk Jock.
- He probably won't be the most intellectual of the bunch, since reading is for nerds (unless he's a Genius Bruiser).
- He'll refrain from expressing emotions that convey weakness (e.g., believing that Men Don't Cry and feelings are for sissies), at least until he learns the cathartic power of Manly Tears and becomes an Emotional Bruiser.
- A Manly Man is generally understood to be confident because his alignment with the male ideal earns him acceptance in society. Because Women Prefer Strong Men this usually means he's a Chick Magnet, though don't expect him to respond positively to kisses.
- If he's particularly raring to do stuff, he might be Hot-Blooded.
- He will have an appetite for meat, especially if it's from animals he hunted himself.
- Role in the story:
- He likely has a job or hobby that has traditionally been male-dominated and has to do with strength/power, such as being a soldier, a sailor, mechanic, or blacksmith. Modern examples are great at sports or similar activities. It's increasingly common to give him an unmanly hobby to show that he's not all beefcake, though.
- It's not uncommon to give him a less classically manly foil to highlight various types of male characters, such as the Pretty Boy or the Stereotypical Nerd. If he has a less masculine and more emotional companion, they're a Sensitive Guy and Manly Man duo.
If a work is deliberately designed to appeal to manly men, see Rated M for Manly.
See also Masculinity Tropes. Compare/contrast Tomboy (his Distaff Counterpart on the axis of masculinity) and Girly Girl (his Distaff Counterpart on the axis of gender norms). See I Want to Be a Real Man and Jock Dad, Nerd Son for characters who aren't Manly Men but are affected by this perception. Contrast In Touch with His Feminine Side. On the other hand, someone so manly that it becomes parodic is probably in Testosterone Poisoning territory.
Characteristics often attributed to Manly Men include:
- Abhorrent Alpha Male
- Action Genre Hero Guy
- Heroic Build
- Hunk
- Knight in Shining Armor
- Lantern Jaw of Justice
- Macho Latino
- Macho Masochism
- Manly Facial Hair
- Manly Gay
- Manly Men Can Hunt
- Manly Tears
- Men Are Uncultured
- Men Don't Cry
- Muscles Are Meaningful
- Noble Male, Roguish Male
- Officer and a Gentleman
- Old-School Chivalry
- Rated M for Manly
- A Real Man Is a Killer
- Real Men Cook
- Real Men Eat Meat
- Real Men Get Shot
- Real Men Hate Affection
- Real Men Hate Sugar
- Real Men Pee Standing Up
- Real Men Take It Black
- Real Men Wear Pink
- Sensitive Guy and Manly Man
- Spontaneous Mustache
- Stout Strength
- Testosterone Poisoning
- World of Muscle Men
- World's Strongest Man