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Is it OK to tell someone to 'man up'? | Is it OK to tell someone to 'man up'? |
(about 1 hour later) | |
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to "man up" is to "demonstrate toughness or courage when faced with a difficult situation". | |
By linking those admirable qualities with men, the phrase is viewed by some as sexist. | |
So when Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt used it to try to get rival Boris Johnson to take part in a TV debate, he was quickly criticised for being "archaic" and "damaging" to young boys and girls. | |
Mr Hunt wrote in the Times that Mr Johnson should not be "a coward", "man up", and take part in the special programme on Sky News. | |
Michael Conroy - whose organisation Men At Work helps boys and young men deal with issues around masculinity and feminism - said the use of the phrase was "disappointing". | |
"Today, tomorrow and the day after, I'll be talking to young men about how phrases like 'man up' are harmful and asking them what they think about it," he said. | |
"But the potential future prime minister has given it a green light and that's really, really counter-productive. | |
"There's a real push, it seems at the moment, about male mental health, about acknowledging vulnerability, but then we just keep coming back to these high-profile voices using careless phrases." | "There's a real push, it seems at the moment, about male mental health, about acknowledging vulnerability, but then we just keep coming back to these high-profile voices using careless phrases." |
Dr Anna Notaro, senior lecturer in media theory at the University of Dundee and UCU Scotland equality officer, said the comment was "deeply disheartening". | |
"One might expect from someone in that position a more sophisticated understanding of the problems with common phrases like that," she added. | |
Dr Notaro cited a YouGov report showing 61% of Britain's young men feel pressured to "man up" as a result of damaging gender stereotypes. | |
"In this context a term like 'man up' is harmful as it validates archaic attitudes towards masculinity," she added. | |
On Twitter, some users - including journalist Mariella Frostrup - questioned the meaning of the term "man up". | |
However, others have defended Mr Hunt, saying his comment was "relatively harmless". | However, others have defended Mr Hunt, saying his comment was "relatively harmless". |
Richard Joy, founder of the Recovering Man website, believes the criticism of Mr Hunt's comment is politically motivated. | Richard Joy, founder of the Recovering Man website, believes the criticism of Mr Hunt's comment is politically motivated. |
"The context in which he used it was regarding Boris debating him, so the implication was to be open to criticism, courageous and strong as a leader - fine traits for a man in my eyes," he said. | "The context in which he used it was regarding Boris debating him, so the implication was to be open to criticism, courageous and strong as a leader - fine traits for a man in my eyes," he said. |
Mr Joy said the view of masculinity as something "rigid and anxiety-inducing" was not always correct, and that a broader definition was needed. | Mr Joy said the view of masculinity as something "rigid and anxiety-inducing" was not always correct, and that a broader definition was needed. |
"If you're open to seeing masculinity in a broader definition than the one we tend to gravitate towards these days, 'man up' is a positive term." | "If you're open to seeing masculinity in a broader definition than the one we tend to gravitate towards these days, 'man up' is a positive term." |
But Kate Halls, a mother from Derbyshire, said she was "disgusted" by Mr Hunt's language. | But Kate Halls, a mother from Derbyshire, said she was "disgusted" by Mr Hunt's language. |
"It's a phrase I would never want anyone to utter to my son," she said. | "It's a phrase I would never want anyone to utter to my son," she said. |
"It's stunning that a man vying for leadership uses such archaic, damaging, gender-stereotypical language. | "It's stunning that a man vying for leadership uses such archaic, damaging, gender-stereotypical language. |
"His uttering that phrase undermines the work so many people, organisations and communities are doing to deal with toxic gender bias and labelling in society." | "His uttering that phrase undermines the work so many people, organisations and communities are doing to deal with toxic gender bias and labelling in society." |
Mr Hunt declined to comment on his use of the phrase. | Mr Hunt declined to comment on his use of the phrase. |