The Transience of Manhood

This interests me not only because I have seen it play out, but because I am raising sons. How do you communicate that their manhood does not have to be earned?

Haven't read replies.

It has to be earned in most societies, certainly in ours. You're wrong in some ways about women, they have equally arbitrary, but different, status benchmarks. Part of that is obviously that naive young women are generally seen as charming and attractive by our society, while naive young men are seen as immature and non-desirable. For women, "womanhood" is really something that's earned much later in life. Let's say around 40 years old. When you're confused about how men could be so hung up on challenges to their masculinity, think about what you'd feel about a 40 year old single woman living with her 4 cats, with Robert Pattinson posters decorating her basement apartment. Then tell me she's as valid as a "Woman" as you or Nexa will be at that age.