A stud is no longer the male ideal

A global survey of 28,000 men has debunked many stereotypes about the male ideal of a “man's man”, according to a Canadian-led study.

Masculinity is certainly not the male ideal of a “man's man” or maleness, says the study.

Nor is being a womanizer or a career seeker.

On the contrary, the male ideal of a “man's man” is someone who is honourable, responsible and committed to his partner, says the study.

According to it, most men want to be seen as good fathers and good husbands, not as studs chasing women for sex.

The study which covered eight countries, including the US, Brazil, Germany and Italy, found that for 33 per cent of men viewed being seen as “honourable” as their highest ideal of maleness.

Another 28 percent said being in control of one's life was their ideal of maleness.

A vast majority of them said the topmost male quality was putting love ahead of sex.

Just one percent rated a great sex life as their ideal.

Three percent plumped for career and financial success.

According to Canadian Michael Sand, who led the survey of 27, 839 men across many cultures and age groups in the eight countries, the new study has shattered may stereotypes about maleness.

“Men routinely said that being in good health, having a good family life, having a harmonious relationship with my wife or my partner, is way more important than a successful career, having a nice home, having a satisfying sex life,” he was quoted as saying by a Canadian news agency.

Sand said, “Being seen as honourable - I think men are telling us that how my community views my integrity and my values system is important to me. They're also saying ‘I want to be seen as a good father, a successful partner, far more than I want to be seen as a stud’.”

According to him, all these things “point to the importance- not in keeping with stereotypes- of interpersonal relationships to men, as well as to women of course.”

Sand said the study debunks what beer commercials and Hollywood gossip sheets project men to - chasing babes, fleeing commitment, abandoning their kids, and having trouble staying sober.

“Just as we know all women are not Playboy bunnies, we know all men are not ravening sex fiends interested in the next conquest. These stereotypes- I think we all know they're not real.”

“This is why it's so important to do research- to challenge our assumptions,” said the Canadian researcher.

Lady killer or sexually active tag no longer macho

Most males want to project themselves as honourable, self-reliant and respected, rather than being perceived as attractive, sexually active or as lady killers.

These findings, based on a large international study, busted prevailing myths about male stereotypes, stemming from alleged virility or a macho outlook.

'Many meanings, positive and negative, are attached to the term, 'masculinity',' said Julia Heiman, director of The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and co-author of this study.

'To ask a large sample of men what comprises their own sense of masculinity is very useful for both the media and for research. These results suggest we should pay attention and ask rather than presume we know.'

The study interviewed more than 27,000 randomly selected males from Germany, US, UK, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Italy and France, with about 16 percent of them admitting erectile problems.

Regardless of age or nationality, the men more frequently ranked good health, harmonious family life and good relationships with their wife or partner as more important to their quality of life than material, self-fulfilling or purely sexual concerns.

There was no significant difference in rankings of masculinity and quality of life characteristics between men who experienced erectile dysfunction and those who did not.

The study, part of the Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) project, aimed to determine characteristics of masculinity and quality of life in men with and without erectile dysfunction, and how those ideas of masculinity might affect seeking help and treatment.

The study was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.