Social IssuesMAY 5, 2022

Straight Guys Are Sharing 30 Everyday Things They Secretly Do That Society Calls "Gay"

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Everyone has their own definition of masculinity. And that's the beauty of it. If you're not harming anyone, there are a million ways in which you can be a man and make the world around you a better place.

But every stick has two ends. Every once in a while, someone comes along and tries to project their own vision of a man. What his virtues should and should not be.

Some time ago, Reddit user Possibly Degenerate submitted a question to the platform, asking: "What are the things every man should at least try even though they are stigmatized as 'gay' or 'unmanly?'"

As of this article, there are nearly 25,000 comments under the post, reminding us that society is still pretty messed up when it comes to masculinity and homosexuality. However, it also shows that we're growing increasingly aware of it.

#1

Straight Guys Are Sharing 30 Everyday Things They Secretly Do That Society Calls "Gay"

My husband paints my nails and helps me do my hair. I have a condition that makes those little jobs monumentally difficult. When we start dating as teens he took a make up course in school to help me do my make up, and pick complimentary colours. He was a metal head teenager in a make up course and I think it’s the most manly thing anyone’s ever done.

ErBearRawrr

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247points

#2

Telling your male friends you love them. Just at the end of highschool my group had several deaths occur. Car accident, cancer, suicide and a couple murders. Now in my current group we say love you after most conversation. Some people think it wierd but f**k em. People aren't around forever. Better to let them know how you feel while you can.

Juice1984

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239points

While asking the question, Possibly Degenerate didn't think it would get that big.

"[At that moment,] I was quarantined with my roommates, all guys at around 21 years of age and I just felt like I was wasting [my time] away," the Redditor told Bored Panda about the origins of their now-viral post.

"I was talking to one of them and told him I felt like I had to do something for myself. I don't know what, just to feel a bit better. And he was like, 'That sounds f**king gay.'"

#3

Being verbally and physically affectionate (if you're comfortable with contact in general) with your boys.

I tell my boys I love them. I hug my boys. I kiss my boys before a night of wrestling and howling at the moon. Aragorn kissed Boromir. You gonna tell me Aragorn was unmanly? Good luck saving Gondor without your boys, coward.

talldarkanddark

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196points

#4

Crying. Just let it out, guys. You can do it! Don’t apologize for it or hide it either.

unknown

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184points

Possibly Degenerate said he doesn't really know why toxic masculinity is so deeply rooted within our society.

"I see it all the time," he added. "In really young boys all the way up to old men. I don't quite notice it serving any real purpose as a lot of right-wing internet people keep going on about."

#5

Anything I do is manly, because I'm a man and I'm doing it.

Crying over an emotional situation. Man card punched.
Having tea with my daughter. Man card punched.
Daddy dance time with the kids. Man card punched.
A "spa day" with a straight razor shave, mani/pedi and towel treatment. Man card punched.
Wearing purple or pink, (the colors of Royalty and Pussy!). Man card punched.
Having my prostate stimulated for the best orgasm of my life. Man card punched.

If you're not insecure, you don't miss out on experiences because of labels.

redtigerpro

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178points

#6

I pee sitting down. It's way better. Fight me.

Red-Direct-Dad

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147points

Judging from his personal experience, the Redditor doesn't think that things are changing for the better in people his age and older. However, the younger folks seem to have a broader perception of being a man.

"I see a lot of kids who are just 16-18 being a lot more open about queer stuff and gendered things, expressing themselves in ways we'd surely got beaten up for in school," the guy, who was born in '98, said.

#7

Quality hugs for your bros. Don’t do the ol’ shoulders touch and pat on the back. Grab your friend and give them a hug!

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/hbyee3/comment/fvcd0yr/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

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142points

#8

Also seeing a therapist. That s**t is fire.

nofartknockin

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139points

Even though he's happy for the younger generation, as he said, the author of the post isn't all too optimistic when it comes to grown-ups.

"Even though friends of mine kinda joked about that before, I've had to come to terms with my own sexuality (which is bisexual), so would a straight™ guy have the urge or the interest to ask a question like that after all?"

#9

When my husband and I first started dating I turned him on to the magic of baths. We did face mask and bath bombs(which he really thought would explode) and bath salt(which he was worried would make him a zombie). Now he drags me into lush and ask if after our date nights if we can take a bath. I keep talking about "when we buy a house..." and he follows up with it needs a nice tub

coffeeglitch

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136points

#10

Try sewing. I'm the seamstress (seammaster?) for my family. Fixing clothing and making curtains etc can be just as useful as fixing a car, and comes in handy more frequently!

atomicbob1

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122points

#11

Being the little spoon.

TJP8ZL

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122points

#12

Cooking, f**king hell don’t rely on others for something you need everyday. Deliveries and take aways are expensive, and it’s really really satisfying when you whip up something and it’s delicious. Eating noodles and microwave meals all the time isn’t really that much better too. You can make a pretty good pasta for like $1-3 or so per portion.

And to those men who say “I’d just marry someone who cooks”, yeah right what if the “one” doesn’t know how to cook?

DaAdobo ·

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109points

#13

Going to the spa. D**k or no d**k, we all deserve to be pampered every once in awhile.

FungusTaint

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103points

#14

Thinking, talking about and understanding your emotions.

ChurchOfEarth

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102points

#15

Skirts. They‘re comfortable and should absolutely make their way into male fashion. Kilts are great, just think of what we‘re missing out on.

pine_ary

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102points

#16

Moisturising. Take care of your skin boys.

DaveDeathmetal

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100points

#17

Anything?

Real men don't give a s**t that other people think they're being "unmanly". I'll confidently order a cosmo at the bar in my purple shirt because it's a good drink and purple is my favorite color

Chansharp

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100points

#18

Yo since quarantine I’ve been:

Doing face masks

Using a tinted sunscreen

Using a cerave face wash

Using actual shampoo and conditioner (not the combo garbage) and a leave in

I’ve literally never felt better about my appearance. I’m sure I look the same, but just doing something makes me feel like I’m in control and am helping

alelabarca

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96points

#19

Pedicures. They FEEL great and it's nice to not have to deal with your toenails and dry ass skin on your feet.

Extra bonus: if the technician jokes about painting your toenails, say yes. It will MAKE their day and then you get the extra bonus of showing them off to friends and family. They will laugh too and if they make effeminate jokes, just say you don't care and you're confident in your masculinity that some polish isn't going to bother you. And more importantly, it's FUN.

MartyFreeze

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96points

#20

Y'all are not ready to hear this but: prostate orgasms. Get one of those toys made for that.

Mal-Estorm

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94points

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