Masculinity in our culture

According to Ralph Donald in his article From "Knockout Punch" to "Home Run", young men need the opportunity to display "manly acts". These would include sports and war. Comparing the two can allow anyone to see the similarities. Some of these consist of leadership and teamwork skills, structure, strategy, the ability to get strong, and it teaches discipline. The notion of masculinity definitely starts with sports and then as kids get older it can transfer into the armed services. With sports, boys can become "men" at a very young age. It gives them the opportunity to show their manliness. They're pressured into keeping this stamina by being told "Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser," "don't give up: fight on to victory," and "you gotta play hurt." Winning is what defines a boy as a man. If you're hurt you still have to play to win or else you're seen as less than a man. This issue is also shown in the video "Football High". Players are told "don't coward down," "shake it off," and "get back in there." They demand physical, manly acts in order to win and be seen as superior. Even if a player is hurt they stay in the game unless they're well ahead, if they fall behind then they are forced to go back in and play. This issue then leads into Chuck Klosterman's chapter George Will vs. Nick Hornby when he talks about intimidation culture. The manliest of all boys are the ones who are popular, special and high achieving, bigger, stronger, faster, and taller... basically superhuman. If you don't fall into this category you are labeled as an outcast which is FAR from masculine. The main goal for intimidation sports--like football, basketball, baseball, and hockey--is to win. That's it. Pushing through physical pain and harsh demands is to show everyone that you're a man that wins.