Does size define masculinity?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2005
Does size define masculinity?
44
Sat, 10-29-2005 - 4:51pm

Several threads over the last 6 months have got me wondering:
Does size define a guy's masculinity?

If you'd answer yes, then how much weight would you attribute to this physical feature in how you view a guy's masculinity?

If you'd answer somewhat, then what weight would you attribute to a guy's size in your list of masculine attributes both physical and personal?

If you'd answer no, then what attributes both physical and personal do you define as being masculine?

Blonde

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2004
Sat, 10-29-2005 - 6:13pm
What about a very feminine acting, hung man..Would you call him masculine according to his penis size?..penis size has nothing to do with true masculinity.It is what it is. Now, if you want him to look more masculine, his arms, chest, etc IS something he can do something about.I really think everyone has their own idea
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2001
Sat, 10-29-2005 - 6:37pm

Phew! Here we go. Opening a can of worms...

>>Does size define a guy's masculinity?<<

Yes. Society in general would clearly have us believe that and us individuals automatically consider a large penis to be an indicator of masculinity - try thinking of a guy with a large penis right now as you are reading this. I bet that the man with the large penis that you thought of was more of a masculine hunk than a gay effeminite pansy.

But I think that us individuals know better than that too and know that size is not a true indicator of masculinity - and while we're talking about that, define masculinity.

It's complicated and there is no simple answer. Suffice to say that as we all get older and more mature I think that we all realise that size isn't everything.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2004
Sat, 10-29-2005 - 6:40pm

I think these are pretty interesting questions guitarman. Many people simply don't attribute some characteristics, such as size, to masculinity, or even femininity for that matter, whereas many others actually DO.

I also am somewhat curious as to what and how much of whatever it is that causes them to feel this way. Nothing wrong with different people viewing different characteristics their own way, but I'm curious anyway just the same.

 

C  H  A  R  A  C  T  E  R

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2005
Sat, 10-29-2005 - 11:47pm

Masculinity, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. What IS masculinity? Is it being tough? If so, then a man who cries when someone he loves dies isn't masculine? Is it being 6'6" tall, and playing football? If so, then a guy who's 5'8" and plays chess isn't masculine?

If size (assuming you meant penis size) is a measure of masculinity, then how would it be possible to judge whether any man is masculine without seeing him naked? If penis size is a measure of masculinity, then is breast size a measure of femininity? So, a small breasted woman must be masculine? Or a man with a small penis must be feminine? Or a very "butch" lesbian with big breasts is feminine?

Since the physical size of a man has no bearing on what size penis he has.....is a huge football linebacker with a small penis feminine?

A man is masculine or not masculine because that's what he is.....and it has nothing to do with the size of his penis. If anything, masculinity is most often produced by testosterone.....so would it follow that a man with large testicals is more masculine than one with small testicals?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Mon, 10-31-2005 - 12:45am

I think the answer to this question is not that penis size defines masculinity, but that it is a factor that can strongly tip the scales towards being masculine.

The second post laughs off the possibility of an effeminate man with a large penis being masculine. A good friend of mine from high school is a very unassuming individual with nothing along the lines of brawny arms, chest, or machismo, but in the locker-room, he ruled the roost. He’s a tall guy, but his penis still looked disproportionately long and large. Our group of friends always gave him good natured and envious comments about his large endowment. Despite the absence of other “masculine” characteristics, he achieved masculinity according to those who saw him in his entirety.

Alternatively, two of our linemen in high school were well over six feet tall, with all the traditional masculine characteristics, but had two of the smallest flaccid sizes I’ve ever seen. They also received comments about their size, but none of the comments suggested manliness. In their case, small penises tipped the scales against masculinity. As Dakine001 suggested, people make characterizations based on the information they have. If Person A becomes privy to a Guy B’s penis size, it affects how masculine Person A perceives Guy B to be. That seems to answer the original question; penis size strongly factors into one’s masculinity. I think it would be hard to see a guy with a small penis and consider him to be as masculine as his equivalent in appearance and personality plus a larger penis.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2005
Mon, 10-31-2005 - 1:07am

So, if I met one of those six foot linebackers, I wouldn't perceive him as masculine? Why? I would have no idea of the size of his penis......and that wouldn't enter into my perception. Maybe in the locker room, because MEN think of a large penis as a masculine characteristic.....

There is also the fact, if we MUST take penis size as evidence of masculinity, that some very small flaccid penises (or is it peni?) can grow tremendously when erect! And some larger flaccid ones barely grow at all when they become erect. Since I've never been in a men's locker room......I wouldn't know if you ever see each other erect.

One definition of masculinity is: Of or pertaining to the male sex, manly, virile. The definition of virile is: Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a man; masculine or manly; having or exhibiting in a marked degree masculine strenghth, vigor or forcefulness.

I don't see where penis size has any bearing on masculinity, except in the eyes of a man in a locker room, and that's a reflection of his own insecurity.

Avatar for elainetwirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Mon, 10-31-2005 - 9:39am

There is no more of a link between masculinity and penis size than there is a link between femininity and breast size! Also, as has been pointed out, a small flaccid penis can, when aroused, grow into a real monster, while there are men who are hung like horses, yet don't grow much when erect. For pleasure in foreplay I rather prefer the smaller model that grows to the larger model that doesn't!

Masculinity is as undefinable as femininity, and certainly bodily form is only a part of the equation. I have been with men who seemed really manly when first met, but as the relationship has deepened it has become clear that they are more like overgrown little boys. Then there are individuals whose physique leaves something to be desired, but as lovers they are out of this world. At least, that has been my experience.

Personally, I have found that larger men don't necessarily make the best lovers. They may look good, but they seem to think that size will make up for skill.

Elaine

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2001
Mon, 10-31-2005 - 1:43pm

>>There is also the fact, if we MUST take penis size as evidence of masculinity,<<

I think that's what the OP was talking about - taking penis size into account. I think that all things being equal, that penis size undoubtedly contributes towards percieved masculinity. Take a digitally retouched photo of a guy - any guy. In one he has a small erect penis, in the other he has a large erect penis. I think that most people would consider the second photo to be more "masculine".

Of course, if you DON'T take penis size into account - maybe because you have no idea of his penis size, then that is a different argument and you are using cues other than penis size to determine masculinity.

Things like body hair (facial stubble), muscles, strength, physical shape, height, tone of voice, penis size, power(?) and specific behaviours are all masculine attributes and generally speaking the more of them a guy has the more masculine he is considered to be. Penis size is just one cue that we use and while it doesn't define a guy and his masculinity it certainly contributes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2004
Mon, 10-31-2005 - 4:10pm
Sorry alex I totally disagree with you...A 6`5 linebacker who weighs 260 pounds,but has a smaller penis is always going to be precieved as more masculine than the 5`5 130 pound drummer in the band who is endowed. (by more people)Precieved is the key word.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Mon, 10-31-2005 - 9:54pm
I was not trying to suggest that the 6'5", 260 pound linebacker with the little penis is less masculine than the 5'5", 130 pound well-endowed drummer in the band. I merely suggested that, while penis size does not define masculinity, it does weigh heavily when evaluating manliness. Perhaps the linebacker and the drummer don't compare on the masculinity scale, but maybe the 5'10" basketball player with the giant penis trumps the linebacker with the micro-penis. If large biceps and a manly-stubble each score one point on the imagined masculinity scale, then I would propose that penis-size scores two or three points in today's culture. It's not the end-all for masculinity, but can tip the scale more than some features.

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