I’ve honestly never encountered that. Short shorts that expose most of your thighs would definitely get some questions, and wearing shorts in a business/professional context is almost always a no-go, but other than that American men wear shorts all the time when it’s warm. On the contrary, during the time I’ve lived in the EU I’ve found Europeans are generally a lot more reluctant to wear shorts even in casual contexts and will keep wearing pants no matter how hot it gets.
That’s more of an old traditional thing than a current one. Years ago only boys wore shorts and men wore pants but that hasn’t been the case for a pretty long time for most Americans.
I’ve never encountered anyone who thought shorts in every context were “un-manly.” But I have encountered an attitude that shorts are frowned upon for men in professional and formal/semi-formal contexts, whereas a woman wearing a dress that shows off her legs would be perfectly fine.
So, maybe that’s sort of where this is coming from? If someone said it was “un-manly” to wear shorts to the gym or the beach, I’d tell them to fuck off.
I’m in my forties,and I remember this a bit from when I was a teenager in the 90s.
It kinda seemed like there was a cultural understanding that showing skin was feminine — especially skin on legs, skin on arms to a lesser degree. So some men didn’t want to do it.
The United States is a tremendously diverse country. The variety of subcultures is almost endless.
In some areas, like rural Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Utah… shorts aren’t practical for the relentless weather and unpredictable conditions in which you may find yourself. Wearing shorts is a sign that you’re unprepared for the rugged life that those areas can present to you.
If this guy is european, he is probably thinking of capris, which Americans do find unmanly. That is all I can think of. Normal shorts are not considered unmanly.
Men that were taught to be insecure about the appearance of their legs might say that. Just like many women don’t wear crop tops because of weight or age.
But appearance aside, there are men that have learned in a tradition that work trousers are the correct attire for working “for safety reasons,”and this becomes a marker of being serious and important in everything they do (things men want to think they are).
They’re considered not “dressed up” but definitely not “unmanly.”
I mean what do you think the big burly dudes at the gym wear to work out in? Dudes hiking in the mountains are in shorts. Dudes rock climbing are usually in shorts. Rec league athletes are in shorts. Heck even just dudes doing yardwork when it’s hot are in shorts.
I wouldn’t wear shorts to a nice dinner out at a restaurant or to church (unless they were my Nantucket reds and I was at the beach) but it doesn’t make me question my manliness.
I never see a man in shorts and think “oh he must be unmanly.” That would be a weird thought.
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Literally never heard this before
Uh we don’t
Google the 70s and 80s. Thanks
This is the first I’m hearing of it
That hasn’t been a thing in at least 60 years.
Most don’t. Also I’m glad that baggy or cargo shorts are trending down. 5” shorts are back baby!
I’ve honestly never encountered that. Short shorts that expose most of your thighs would definitely get some questions, and wearing shorts in a business/professional context is almost always a no-go, but other than that American men wear shorts all the time when it’s warm. On the contrary, during the time I’ve lived in the EU I’ve found Europeans are generally a lot more reluctant to wear shorts even in casual contexts and will keep wearing pants no matter how hot it gets.
maybe cropped booty shorts? but overall, they don’t. men wear shorts all the time.
America, you guys need to chill out with your obsession with not wearing shorts and putting tariffs on everything, get a grip!
Women don’t want to see your hairy legs. It’s too manly.
It’s unbusinesslike though. In most areas shorts are too casual to be business casual.
That’s more of an old traditional thing than a current one. Years ago only boys wore shorts and men wore pants but that hasn’t been the case for a pretty long time for most Americans.
I’ve never encountered anyone who thought shorts in every context were “un-manly.” But I have encountered an attitude that shorts are frowned upon for men in professional and formal/semi-formal contexts, whereas a woman wearing a dress that shows off her legs would be perfectly fine.
So, maybe that’s sort of where this is coming from? If someone said it was “un-manly” to wear shorts to the gym or the beach, I’d tell them to fuck off.
It’s not that they are unmanly but that most men’s legs are just ugly.
What????? I have literally never heard that. Many people wear shorts when it is hot out and some still wear them when it is cold.
I’m in my forties,and I remember this a bit from when I was a teenager in the 90s.
It kinda seemed like there was a cultural understanding that showing skin was feminine — especially skin on legs, skin on arms to a lesser degree. So some men didn’t want to do it.
I don’t wear shorts very often but I don’t consider it anything to do with masculinity, it’s just kind of immature in a tonal sense fashionwise.
I don’t know. Seems really weird especially because I don’t know any men who think that.
The United States is a tremendously diverse country. The variety of subcultures is almost endless.
In some areas, like rural Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Utah… shorts aren’t practical for the relentless weather and unpredictable conditions in which you may find yourself. Wearing shorts is a sign that you’re unprepared for the rugged life that those areas can present to you.
If this guy is european, he is probably thinking of capris, which Americans do find unmanly. That is all I can think of. Normal shorts are not considered unmanly.
Men that were taught to be insecure about the appearance of their legs might say that. Just like many women don’t wear crop tops because of weight or age.
But appearance aside, there are men that have learned in a tradition that work trousers are the correct attire for working “for safety reasons,”and this becomes a marker of being serious and important in everything they do (things men want to think they are).
They’re considered not “dressed up” but definitely not “unmanly.”
I mean what do you think the big burly dudes at the gym wear to work out in? Dudes hiking in the mountains are in shorts. Dudes rock climbing are usually in shorts. Rec league athletes are in shorts. Heck even just dudes doing yardwork when it’s hot are in shorts.
I wouldn’t wear shorts to a nice dinner out at a restaurant or to church (unless they were my Nantucket reds and I was at the beach) but it doesn’t make me question my manliness.
I never see a man in shorts and think “oh he must be unmanly.” That would be a weird thought.