Joe Ehrman is an NFL legend who was an all pro withe the Baltimore Colts. I recently heard him speak at a coaches seminar. He made the statement that the #1 problem in America is we have poorly defined what it means to be a man. He calls them cultural lies, that are used mostly by advertisers to basically say, if you are man you will do certain things. I wanted to share these three lies here as a reminder to myself and others that if you don't know what it means to be a man, big tobacco, beer, deodorant companies, pornograpers, clothing manufacturers, and many others will gladly defined your manhood b suggesting that their product equates to masculinity. If you know my story and have read my HOF, you know that I started chewing because I thought that's what tough, independent "men" did. I don't want anyone who reads my intro, especially my sons to ever believe what it means to be a man is dictated by a product you put in or on your body.
3 lies of masculinity perpetuated by our culture.
1. The lie of the ball field. Athletic performance and prowes equate to masculine status.
2. The lie of the bedroom. Sexual performance or prowess equate to masculine status.
3. The lie of the billfold. Financial earnings equate to masculine status.
After sharing this, he stopped, looked at the audience, and in an incredibly authentic and painful manner, implored everyone, "these things have nothing to do with being a man!"
Joe Ehrman's book is InsideOut Coaching
