Men’s lack of support for egalitarian gender roles can further be explained by the
culturally framing of manhood as something that must be achieved or accomplished,
most often through a successful career or family provision. In contrast, womanhood is
perceived as something that is “natural.” Nurturing is thought to be intrinsic to each
woman’s being. Due to this cultural framework, men feel the necessity to prove their
masculinity. Such proof entails the avoidance of departures from the masculine norm and
the constraint of feminine attributes. Subscription to or support for egalitarian gender
roles may be construed as evidence against a man’s masculinity, and is therefore
suppressed (Brines, 1994)