The article, “The stigma of Masculinity” by Gordon Aqualus expresses the idea of what is the real factors of masculinity and what is masculinity is. The article can be found in a website, “Psychology Today”. The writer explains that men’s masculinity is not about toughness, but it is about honesty and showing honest emotions.

According to the article “The Stigma of Masculinity” states that many people knows masculinity about showing toughness and wildness, however it is about honest emotion and vulnerability. The writer had a survey on men asking, “The manliest thing about me is...”. The result was surprising, “most of them described attributes (stereo)typically associated with femininity, such as: “my heart, my ability to show emotion, I cry, and my vulnerability” (Gordon 3).

In the novel, “The Red badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane also have theme of Masculinity. The main character “Henry Flaming” also worries about his lack of courage and his masculinity since he thinks masculinity is about strength and bravery.

Unlike many people’s stereotype about masculinity, result shows that men thinks their vulnerability and softness is manliest thing for men. The article expresses that “some women are more masculine than some men and vice-versa, and nearly all individuals experience changes in their gender expression during their life or even from one situation to another” (Gordon 7). Masculinity is not just for men, but it could also be for women since masculinity is not about violence and toughness.

In the novel, as the story goes, Henry realizes that masculinity and courage is not about bravery, it is about taking responsibility on his action and honesty. This made him coward deserted soldier to a brave and responsible hero.

Relation to a novel, “The Red badge of courage” has a theme of masculinity and how it develops main character’s personality. His understanding of masculinity was untrue and shamed him for not being his standard of masculinity. However, he manages to understand the true meaning of masculinity.