The perception of masculinity and femininity depends almost entirely on culture - and culture changes all the time. In 1993, in the United States, for example, a senator caused a commotion by wearing pants to go to work! Still, many people of both sexes prefer to behave in traditionally masculine ways. For this, it is not enough to wear pants; you need to change your appearance, your habits, and even your mindset to be comfortable with yourself and others.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Adopting a masculine attitude
Step 1. Project Confidence
Men are often more self-confident than women, even when both have the same qualifications. If you want to be taken seriously and demand more respect, stop doubting yourself and cut out unnecessary passive behavior. Anyone can follow these Steps, even those who choose to look more feminine:
- Adopt confident body language: adjust your posture, make eye contact, and keep your arms in "open" positions.
- Accept compliments and stop apologizing for everything. Say "Thank you, I appreciate it" instead of "Imagine, it's nothing."
- Start asking for the things you want and identify and recognize your own abilities. Say "Yes, I have experience with x, but I charge y reais for this type of service".
Step 2. Take risks.
Like being self-confident, taking risks is often associated with more masculine attitudes. This kind of behavior may seem irresponsible at times, but one of the positive aspects of it is the person's ability to force himself to make difficult but effective decisions. Reflect on the cravings you repress and find ways to break free. Do you only stay in your job because you're afraid? Is your love life so painful because you are shy and afraid to develop something more concrete? Sometimes, you have to take bigger steps to get where you want to go.
If everyday risks make you nervous, start facing your fear in simpler ways. You might, for example, force yourself into a hobby or a difficult exercise. That way, you'll be more confident if you succeed or learn to deal with failure without suffering major consequences
Step 3. Be tough
Most Western societies oblige men to demonstrate resilience and independence. Next time you feel like complaining about something, stop and think; if it's something insignificant, let it go without having to go to someone else. If you act like that, you will reap good results in your professional life, where avoiding holding grudges and gossip can make everything easier.
This cultural pressure also has its downside. In Brazil (and in many other countries), men do not seek help as much as women, especially with regard to emotional or mental problems. Therefore, it is much more difficult for them to overcome these situations - which ends up creating a burden in the lives of their family and friends, who have to face the accumulation of negative feelings. Pretending to have this "strength" is not a virtue
Step 4. Be independent
Take responsibility for yourself. Unless you want to be masculine just to satisfy people's expectations, you're going to have to learn to "wash, iron and cook" for yourself, not just do typically masculine activities like changing tires.
Step 5. Set goals and meet them
Ambition and confidence are two traits more common among men than among women. Adopting more "masculine" attitudes makes people more focused on their goals and less concerned. Be centered on any area of life - personal, professional, or love - without stalling. Ask yourself the toughest questions and try your best to answer them until you figure out what you want out of life and what you need to do.
Do not worry; it's normal to find that things aren't as simple as they seem. Whenever this happens, react with calm and determination
Step 6. Understand hypermasculinity
Hypermasculinity is the attempt to incorporate masculine stereotypes as fully as possible, even when they are not beneficial. Some examples of these behaviors are: extreme willingness to compete (especially with other male people), aggressive sexual desire, and willingness to conflict or dominate others (especially female people). Those who adopt this lifestyle find it difficult to cultivate close relationships, as they are constantly testing the limits of others and cannot cooperate. Finally, hypermale people are more likely to commit physical or sexual abuse against their partners, in addition to taking dangerous risks for silly reasons or feeling forced to do something they don't like just to maintain their image.
Playing sports and participating in competitive play is an excellent way to release the inner "alpha male" in a controlled context
Step 7. Control your emotions
What did Rafael Nadal do right after winning the US tennis championship in 2013? He cried like a child. Does that mean he's not male? Of course not. Past generations idolized the image of the virile and indifferent man, but it is increasingly common to express emotions and feelings. Those who hide what they feel (regardless of sex) tend to get stuck in unhappy relationships and develop serious anxiety, depression and even stress-related illnesses. At the very least, open your heart to your closest friends and family. Even in professional contexts, expressing emotions without flinching or becoming embarrassed can reinforce an individual's masculinity, as he demonstrates self-confidence. If you're not at that level yet, don't be afraid to be more stoic in public. Just don't be afraid to express yourself when it matters.
Part 2 of 3: Saying the Right Words
Step 1. Speak your mind
Whenever you have something useful and constructive to say, express yourself. Male people talk confidently and give their opinion, even when they may not be right.
This type of behavior has a downside: in groups of people of different genders, men often dominate the discussion, not realizing that they are interrupting women and preventing them from speaking. Regardless of gender, a male person needs to pay attention to this dynamic. Group interactions can be much healthier if everyone cooperates, waits their turn to speak, or even divides conversations among nuclei with fewer individuals
Step 2. Don't think too much - at least not out loud
To be masculine, you have to know exactly what to do (or at least make it look like you know). If you admit a mistake or an uncertainty, for example, the hypermasculine and competitive people around you will belittle your opinion. Also, even if you don't think this practice is healthy, hiding your weaknesses can be helpful at certain times. Ideally, do this without being headstrong or arguing loudly with anyone. If you notice that your initial decision was wrong, propose a change elegantly, without dwelling on the mistake or apologizing too much.
This is ideal when discussing with less educated people. If someone tries to "outgrow" your masculinity, demonstrate confidence in their knowledge to protect yourself - without losing your temper
Step 3. Make people smile
Men tend to tell a lot more jokes than women, although there is no biological difference when it comes to "grace." Furthermore, research indicates that heterosexual women are more attracted to funny men, who, in turn, like it when their viewers laugh at their pranks. Start making witty comments (even if they don't work once in a while) to look more masculine. For women, unfortunately, this style is much more difficult to adopt - and it can generate unreceptive reactions. Girls who like to "get along" with guys can try to play more, but the success of this endeavor will depend on how traditional the views of their friends are.
Step 4. Be who you want to be
Everyone has some masculine and feminine traits, as well as characteristics that don't depend on gender or sex. Your masculinity can change style and strength according to the context - which is not wrong. Before turning all your conversations into a testosterone scramble, remember another side: the self-confidence of being honest without being trapped by the fear of being judged. Sometimes we all need to stop playing the "tough" character and get more sensitive:
- Take responsibility for your mistakes. If you can't admit your weaknesses, people will see you as the worst of all male stereotypes: someone so dedicated to getting whatever you want that you weaken emotionally and sabotage the success of others.
- Don't let pride and self-confidence turn to arrogance. Trying to show off to the person you care about is a very masculine trait; however, if done in an exaggerated way, it can lose the effect.
Part 3 of 3: Being more masculine in appearance
Step 1. Wear more masculine clothes
Taking care of your look is not fundamental to changing your behavior, but it can have a big impact on the way people treat you. In many places, more masculine people opt for pieces in more neutral or dark tones, with few (or no) accessories, looser pants and a more casual or "sloppy" look, instead of something expensive or handpicked.
Every corner of the world has its own masculine style. There are countries where men wear brightly colored robes and social groups where wearing tailored suits and silver cuff links are expressions of power, for example. Get inspiration from your friends and ask for advice if you don't know where to start
Step 2. Start taking care of your appearance in a more masculine way
One of the most obvious options for men is to grow a mustache and beard: when the beard is fuller, the individual is even more masculine than when it is carefully trimmed - but, as with clothes, it depends on the context. People of both sexes can adopt a shorter, simpler haircut or ask the barber to recommend a more masculine look.
Even if you want to look more masculine, don't forget to take care of your hair and body: take frequent showers to get clean, but not to the point where you don't let a little of your natural scent escape
Step 3. "Transform" a female body into a male body
Women who want to be more masculine may have to hold their breasts. If that's your case, wear loose clothing that hides your curves.
Use professional accessories to secure your breasts, avoid squeezing them too tightly and don't stay that way for too long - or it can have serious side effects
Step 4. Develop your male molejo
Adopt typical manly male body language: straighten your back as you approach people and lean your shoulders back; walk quickly and resolutely, looking straight ahead, not down; put more focus on your shoulders than your hips; be agile and don't move too much, play with your hands or dress up in public.
- Be happy, even if you're going to an unpleasant appointment.
- Smile at people, but don't overdo it all the time; don't bite your lips and squint at everything. Instead, try not to show any expression other than a slight smile. Open your eyes and always be on the lookout.
Step 5. Take good care of your body
You don't have to become a bodybuilder, but it's great to train your physique to look more masculine. Go to the gym a few times a week, play soccer, run to improve your aerobic performance, hike, and so on. - everything that brings happiness and results to the body. Masculinity is synonymous with control, and the body is one of the easiest aspects to control.
Take pride in your body to develop one of the main traits of masculinity: confidence. Remember to adjust your attitudes to achieve your goals; it is not enough just to walk on a treadmill once in a while, for example
Step 6. Don't be afraid to get dirty
That's right: if you want to be more masculine, lose the fear of getting a little dirty. Fix your car, take care of your garden or yard, paint the walls, or do any homework or recreational activity involving dirt. None of this turns a person into a man, but it can be all that is necessary for those who want to start putting their muscles into practice - which has always been the main way of working for a man.
Step 7. Adopt male hobbies
This is one more way to get more masculine overall. Learn to handle carpentry, ride a motorcycle, take care of your car or truck, hunt, fish, play sports, etc. None of this is essential, but it can help you feel more manly.
Tips
- Train, but without feeling obligated to go to the gym every day. Try to maintain a healthy weight and do crunches! Make the most of your time with physical education teachers.
- Girls who need to wear a uniform can try to disguise their breasts by wearing blouses, jackets and coats whenever possible. If there is a difference between the male and female models, choose the male one.
Notices
- If wearing a neoprene waistband, wear a tank top underneath. Otherwise, your abdomen will be blistered and smelly.
- Don't leave your hygiene aside just because you want to be more masculine. Just don't spend hours in the bathroom every morning and just take a shower a day. As much as your body is smelly after a football match, for example, try not to get so dirty; apply deodorant and take care of cleaning in general.
- Never use elastic bandages to secure your breasts! They gradually tighten the skin when the person moves; thus, throughout the day, they compress the region even more. Many people have had injuries and breathing or lung problems because of this.
- This lifestyle can be tricky for biological women: people of both sexes can make fun of you as well as various personality types. Think of a shrewd response to this type of comment to push these individuals away, or try to ignore them.