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[Shankapotomus]

335. But what is imposing this pressure on men?

It's the self-accepted male ethos. It's certainly not the traditionally understood feminine ethos. And to whatever extent women impose these pressures on men it is because some women have not questioned the masculine ethos assigned to men either. Even feminists can adopt the aggressive, posturing, masculine ethos for themselves but it doesn't make it any more correct.

Here is a great interview Naomi Wolf conducted in which she basically deconstructed part of the male ethic. In short, the male ethos is mostly grand-standing and senseless self-imposed risk taking.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/191618-1

The pressure can only be imposed on you if you accept the burden and worry about what people will say. Because that's basically what you're complaining about....what people will say. But people will say any number of things about you based on who you are...including a democrat. If the things they say about you being a democrat doesn't stop you from being one, why do the things people say about being a "man" stop you from living a life more centered and balanced between a masculine and feminine ethos?

After all, you are the product of a man and a woman, not two men.