Masculinity Quiz Answers
In our previous post, I gave a quiz testing readers' understanding of masculinity. Many thanks to those who posted their answers in the comments. It's encouraging to see such a high level of participation.
For those just joining us, and as a reminder, readers were presented with five sets of two scenarios. Each section featured one man exhibiting masculine behavior and one man displaying effeminacy. Contra the reductive modern definition, I employ the classical definition of effeminacy as lacking masculine virtue.
Readers were asked to identify which man in each set was being more masculine and which was being more effeminate. Here are the answers.
Section 1
Richard and Scott are twentysomething single men. While Richard is a successful pickup artist who seeks the pleasures of a high notch count, Scott is a virgin who is saving the gift of his sexuality for his future wife.
Who is more masculine?
Readers who identified Scott as the more masculine man answered correctly.
Everyone is obligated to practice chastity, the virtue for regulating indulgence in pleasures in a manner proper to one's state in life. Pleasure is a signal that the activity which produces it is essentially good. However, indulging any good in excess is disordered, and seeking pleasure for its own sake is always wrong.
Richard's pleasure-seeking betrays a lack of chastity. Furthermore, men are called to be chaste for the sake of their future wives. Richard's compounding of his lust with selfishness is therefore effeminate as well.
Section 1 recap: A. effeminate, B. masculine.
Section 2
Alan and Dave are both hardworking men who seek to exercise Christian headship in their homes. Alan takes part in household chores with his wife's assistance. Dave, on the other hand, gives sole responsibility for the housework to his wife.
Who is more masculine?
If you said that Alan is the more masculine husband, you are correct.
God gives men primary authority over the entire household, not just those tasks which are customarily considered men's work. Women were created as men's helpers, not our slaves.
Not only does Dave's habit of watching TV while his wife cleans indicate a vicious proclivity toward pleasure seeking, he actually cedes some of his headship to her by abdicating all of his responsibility for the housework.
Section 2 recap: A. masculine, B. effeminate.
Section 3
Jeffrey and Dominic were both offered partnerships in a risky startup venture. Jeffrey not only left his secure job to take the new position, he invested his family's emergency fund in the business. Meanwhile, Dominic judged the new job's higher income potential an insufficient reason to risk his family's financial security.
Who is more masculine?
The one virtue above all others which men are called to master to an even greater degree than women is prudence. A man's headship of his household comes with a price tag of always being obligated to act in his family's best interests--even if it means sacrificing his preferences.
Men are more disposed to risk-taking then women, but these must be reasonable risks. By taking a leap without fully appreciating the potential consequences, Jeffrey acted rashly, and thus effeminately.
On a theological level, men are particularly called to image Christ through sacrificial suffering. That is why professions such as the priesthood and soldiering are properly reserved to men. Dominic's job may suck, but his obligation as a husband and father is to offer it up in sacrifice while he works to find sufficiently stable work that better fits his dispositions.
Tl; dr: Don’t take a risk that migh make you but could break you—especially if you have a family.
Section 3 recap: A. effeminate, B. masculine
Section 4
Glenn and Mike are both attending a seminar put on by their company. When the speaker discusses a new corporate policy proposal, Glenn feels wary about the suggested course of action but holds his peace pending further information since he's insufficiently informed on the subject. Mike knows just as little, yet he doesn't hesitate to share his uninformed opinion with the room.
Who is more masculine?
Those who said that Glenn exercised greater masculinity are correct.
Another key virtue in which men are to excel is humility. Taking undue pleasure in one's own intellectual excellence, including the presumption that others are always better off hearing your opinion, regardless of whether it's informed or not, is intellectually prideful and effeminate.
In other words, a masculine man speaks because he has something to say. An effeminate speaks because he has to say something.
Section 4 recap: A. masculine, B. effeminate.
Section 5
Darren and James both receive petty insults from their coworkers. Darren quietly suffers the barb, while James flips his lid and retaliates in kind.
Who is more masculine?
If you answered that Darren showed greater masculinity by keeping his cool under fire, pat yourself on the back.
Because of the potentially more dire consequences of unchecked male passion, men are specially obliged to regulate our passions. Anger itself is not a sin, but it must always be subject to reason. Getting overtly emotional over petty insults is effeminate.
Section 5 recap: A. more masculine, B. more effeminate.
Final tally (who is masculine):
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. A
Looking over the responses, it was reassuring to see that our readership demonstrates more masculinity than average. So give yourselves a well-earned pat on the back.
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