I think you're definitely right that, in many cases, men are happy to fit into the cookie-cutter stereotype made for them. Indeed, the tagline of archetypal lads' mag Loaded is “for men who should know better.”

That said, I think there's an even greater reinforcing effect than the one you stated: not only do some men conform to their stereotype and in so doing reinforce it but in many cases very 'masculine' men are *rewarded* for being so. You suggest that there's perhaps an evolved reason for macho behaviours, and I imagine that in addition people's (evolved?) biases might reward them for such behaviour, which is more problematic. More assertive people tend to earn more then their less assertive peers (though that may simply be because they ask for higher pay), but the same is true for extroverts over introverts, more attractive people over less attractive people, taller men over shorter men. It might, therefore, not be enough to simply assert that 'not all men fit stereotype X' because men would still be under pressure to conform to a certain stereotype if they want to succeed in certain roles in life. How to excise this bias from society, I do not know; as you suggest, if it is evolved then it may be difficult to isolate.

While I think you're right not to seek to remove macho behaviour from society I reckon there is something to be said for maintaining a certain environment in offices, say—people report 'lad culture' infiltrating workplaces and making them stifling places to be, and I think there are many people who would find ultra-masculine behaviours at work would make their jobs unbearable, but I suppose that would fall under more general laws about having a right to a non-threatening workplace.

I'll be writing a follow-up to this post that looks at the misandrist bias in scientific literature which has the potential to be very damaging indeed as it claims to empirically document gender differences where none exist, and I'd love your thoughts on that when it appears.

I am unsure if it is actually possible or desirable to rid society of what we may call stereotypical male behaviour. I tried to skirt around the nature versus nurture issue for this very reason, I am simply unsure on which side of the fence this type of behaviour belongs. If it is at least in some part a product of environment, then I certainly think that removing male stereotypes would lower the expectation on males to act in certain ways. However if there is some sort of evolutionary tendeny for males to act in accordance with the stereotype, removing it would prove a difficult task. Even if we could, I do not believe that this sort of behaviour should be forcibly removed. As I stated earlier, I have no qualms with stereotypical male behaviour for the most part, only the assumption that all men must conform to it.

It is sexist but it's also tongue-in-cheek. Also as Chris implies in his previous comment the fact is that many people embrace the perceived gender role that society prescribes to them – being a 'feminine' man or a 'masculine' woman is considered contrary to the norm. One might assume these people to be homosexual, purely because of their apparent adoption of the character traits stereotypical to the opposite sex.

Sexism against men is, as you say, something of a taboo subject. In fact, sexism as a whole seems to be a topic which most people will avoid discussing if possible. However, the concern you raise about heteronormativity in attitudes towards masculinity is certainly a salient one. Whether the spin be positive or otherwise, the assumption that men are predisposed to prefer casual sex and aggressive chauvinism is, still, just as prevalent as it is harmful.

But I must concede that I found the pessimism in your final paragraph alarming. Surely, if the assumption that men behave in certain ways by default is a cultural imposition, as you imply that you believe, then it is, by definition, a problem which can be overcome? If the chauvinistic behaviour of some men is a mechanistic phenomenon, then we have every chance of excising it from our society. After all, we created it. Your defeatism, then, is misplaced.

I think part of the problem is that men accept and live up to the stereotypes society has set them. Whereas we would no longer praise a woman for becoming some sort of 50s role model and devoting her life to home and husband, men will perhaps find praise for having sex with multiple partners, being tough and so on. I don't believe any of these things are particularly bad in themselves. However, when they become goals or expectations for one gender and not for another then they are offensive to those men who have no desire to live up to the stereotype. Nevertheless men will carry out what has been prescribed for them and the entire operation will become a sort of vicious circle. Stereotypes are set, men are conditioned into doing them, and then the stereotype itself gains credence as men are seen to be acting in accordance with it.

I could go on, but I'll just finish by explaining why I don't believe this circularity will ever be broken down. Unlike with the feminist movement, where there was a genuine oppression of women's freedom, men are not necessarily forced into there roles (although it could be argued that boys are primed for some of these roles as children, but I'd rather not bring nature vs. nurture into this) in fact some men evidently enjoy living up to a stereotype. Now there is nothing wrong in that, but it doesn't bode well for those of us who don't want to be the victims of such ruthless stereotyping. The best that we could ever hope for then is to raise awareness of the issue by writing articles like yours Henry, well done!

(PS: I thought this high brow article required my attempt at a high brow response, so I hope I haven't made too much of a fool of myself).

I thought I'd give DISQUS as a go as it seems so much cleaner than IntenseDebate but with similar functionality. It does allow the import of comments, yes. See what you think.