Real Men Hate Affection

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"Love? What kind of man tells another man that he loves him?" —Cotton Hill, King of the Hill

In fiction, every guy usually follows the Bro Code. One of the rules of the Bro Code is that guys do not hug each other. They also don't talk things out or get emotional, because that's what chicks do; either that, or it's gay. Sensitivity is never a priority for guys, no matter how they appear on the surface. Every guy is like this, even the most understanding guy will not want to seem sensitive, for fear of being called a pussy or "gay".

Also, don't expect teenage boys to be sensitive even with their own fathers. After a rare personal talk, no matter how short, always expect an awkward silence followed by a throat clearing, and a quick mumble of "I gotta go" or "that was a good talk, son". You can also expect lots of nervous hand shakes, but never a hug, at least not any longer than three seconds. This is a huge Double Standard, as it implies that men who show affection are weak, but it is normal for women to be affectionate.

This is a relatively recent trope, and of varying geographical distribution. Until around the eighteenth century, it was expected of "men of sensibility" to show their emotions much more openly (as in The Song Of Roland, in which the heroic French weep and faint away in groups of twenty thousand at a time). Even PDA between males was much more common as little as a hundred and fifty years ago, though generally more restrained in Anglophone countries (with their Puritan traditions) than elsewhere. (19th century English diarists record their horror at seeing male Frenchmen and Germans kissing each other on the mouth, though this gesture had been actually more common among all genders in England than elsewhere up to the time of the Civil Wars.)

As the title implies, examples of this trope are almost Always Male, but inversions are welcome. This also only usually applies to male bonding.

See also Man Hug, Accidental Hug, Men Don't Cry, Rated "M" for Manly, All the Good Men Are Gay, Ho Yay.

Examples of Real Men Hate Affection include:

Anime and Manga

• Zigzagged in spades in Berserk. The main male characters, Guts and Griffith, can be described as ambitious, ruthless, Jerk Asses, uncultured in the case of Guts, and a monster in the case of Griffith (and almost with Guts), but one thing for sure is that they're not afraid to talk about their feelings in very poetic manners, especially to one another (making certain implications arise). In the case of Guts, he can switch from being a gruff jerk to being very tender and caring.
• Ranma ½: Played straight with Ranma and his father, Genma. They never hug or tell each other that they care; they very rarely have personal talks. The thought of getting parental affection from his dad is so weird to Ranma that Genma once used an attack against him that consisted only of an overly affectionate hug, which totally freaked him out. Growing up with the Real Men Hate Affection mindset could explain why he doesn't really like being touched and seems to only have love/hate relationships with the people he's closest to. (i.e. Ryoga, Akane, etc.)

Film

• Averted in Across the Universe, with Max and Jude. They only knew each other for about a year, yet they are doing the Meadow Run by the film's end.
• In The Hot Chick, the eponymous hot chick's boyfriend describes his feelings for her to a friend, expecting a similar confession from the friend, who calls him gay.
  • This happens again, with the same actor, in Fired Up, except the one confessing his feelings calls his friend out on failing logic forever.

Actually, pursuing a woman you have heterosexual feelings for... not gay.

Film-Animation

• The Emperors New Groove has this at the very end. Kuzco and Pacha finally get the potion, embrace... and then separate, looking rather embarrassed because guys don't do this... see it here, at about 2:50.
• Averted in Aladdin, the (arguably) most important relationship in the film is between Aladdin and Genie, two male characters. They are often shown talking about their feelings and hug multiple times, all while averting the trappings of Ho Yay, and neither coming off as unmanly.

Live Action Television

• There is a scene in Merlin which fits this trope to a tee: Merlin and Arthur have a Friendship Moment, and Merlin moves to hug Arthur, feeling it was the logical follow-up. Arthur doesn't quite see it that way. After an awkward moment, Arthur rolls his eyes and leaves. Merlin just smiles.

Merlin: I thought you were going for a hug. Arthur: Nooooo.

• • Completely Averted between Gwaine and Merlin. Gwaine has no problems hugging Merlin.
• The Father and son talk variant is inverted, brilliantly in an episode of iCarly. Spencer and Carly are both visibly uncomfortable as Spencer tries to give Carly The Talk.

Carly: We are not having this conversation. Spencer (clearly relieved): Thank God!

• Averted in How I Met Your Mother with Marshall. He is very affectionate and emotional, and he tells his father everything, literally.
• Friends also averted this with Chandler and Joey who were very close, did talk about their feelings and often engaged in hugging. Though this takes a few seasons of Character Development... at first they make use of most of the male relationship tropes. Then they move to discussing whether it's okay for them to hug in certain situations. Then they just talk to and express affection for each other freely.
• Kirk and Spock's complete aversion of this trope in Star Trek: The Original Series led to the creation of the first Slash Fics. Particularly interesting since Vulcans dislike showing emotion in general, so Spock's obvious affection for Kirk effectively breaks two sets of social rules.
  • That said, Spock does try to exhibit some propriety on occasion. For example, after having saved Kirk's life by taking control of a Klingon warship, Kirk goes in for the Man Hug...

Spock: Please Captain, not in front of the Klingons.

• In Supernatural, Dean Winchester often acts like this, rather to Sam's annoyance.
• In That '70s Show, Red and Hyde both hate to express any kind of affection. Hyde actually denies even having feelings.
• Ray in Everybody Loves Raymond. In one episode he seems incapable of understanding his wife's need for affection, even stating that no man enjoys cuddling, they only put up with it to get sex.
• In The Office Jim post marriage to Pam gets mocked by Dwight for openly showing affection.
  • Angela is the rare female example, hating affection as much as Dwight, making them perfect for each other.
• Addressed more than once on Home Improvement, as it tackles a lot of "man stuff".
  • In general, Al and Tim are a Sensitive Guy and Manly Man, and Tim is occasionally put off by Al's shows of affection. For instance, after he sticks up for Al and keeps him from being fired:

Tim: Oohhh, you're getting that "I'm going to hug you" look; I don't like that, Al! Al: Just a little one! Tim: No, Al, I-- [Al glomps him] AAAA! You're fired! Al: I am not, you big friend, you!

• • On the other hand, Tim isn't afraid of showing some affection himself. One episode is driven by the fact that his son Brad is embarrassed by Tim telling him "I love you" in front of his friends.
  • Then there's the episode where Tim's boss and friend Mr. Binford dies. Both Al and Tim's wife Jill get on his case for not mourning openly, while Tim wonders why it's a big deal if he doesn't turn on the waterworks like they do. At the same time, Brad compiments him for taking the loss "like a real man" and not crying, which bothers Tim greatly:

Brad: You don't let stuff get to you. Tim: Stuff gets to me! Brad: Well, the great part about it is, no one can tell.

• My Name Is Earl: Earl and Randy, despite being unusually close to each other, are embarrassed by the thought of saying "I love you" to each other.
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Anytime Carlton wants to hug Will, or even spend time talking to one another. Carlton is all for it, while Will puts on his Manly Face and bares it.
• One season 1 CSI: NY ep has the group questioning someone at a 'cuddle party'. Danny makes it clear that he does not cuddle. (although it's quite likely that's changed by now, between Lindsay and Lucy lol)

Literature

• In Harry Potter, Ron's usual display of affection was clapping Harry on the back.
  • They do hug in Deathly Hallows, however, after some intense issues are worked out (including an Imaginary Love Triangle with Hermione). J.K. Rowling noted that her American editor (or someone like that) wanted them to hug during a similar but less intense scene in the fourth book, but according to J.K. British men do not show affection that easily.

Music

• Played with by "A Father's Love", sung by Bucky Covington and High Valley (not sure which is the original and which is the cover). The song talks about the singer's dad and how he wasn't all that affectionate, but helped out with home maintenance, checking the oil and filling the tires his car, and so on. The singer admits that "I didn't see it then, but I see it now: he was saying 'I love you' the only way he knew how." It's treated just as valid as physical affection, just more subtle. (Also averted by the singer himself, by the line "I knew he'd stiffen up, but I hugged him anyway.")

Newspaper Comics

• In a Garfield strip when Jon visits his family:

Jon's father: Good to see you again, son. You're looking well. Jon: Thanks... You too, dad. [[[Beat]]] Jon's father: Well, got chores to do. Jon: Better go unpack. Garfield: A real father-son moment.

Theater

• In Pippin when the title character returns home from the university of Padua, he and his father almost hug, but wind up shaking hands. Pippin then attempts to talk to him about his feelings of emptiness and quest to find something meaningful, but his father fobs him off with cliches and 'well I've got to go.' By the way, his father is Charlemagne. Yes, that one.

Web Original

• Achilles and Guardsman of the Global Guardians PBEM Universe love each other like brothers. They support each other and are there for each other when it's needed. But they do this all without ever actually demonstrating their feelings for each other in any way, shape or form that isn't "100% manly".
• Yahtzee from Zero Punctuation does this often.

Western Animation

• On The Simpsons episode "Bart the Genius," Bart is shocked when Homer kisses him.

Bart: You kissed me. Homer: Now, now, there's nothing wrong with a father kissing his son. I think.

• Most of King of the Hill is like this, with Hank being mortified whenever Bobby doesn't follow this trope.
  • Hank is an extreme version of this, unwilling to show any more affection than a handshake to his own mother. It's implied that this is due to emotional abuse from his father. Ironically, his greatest fear is that his father will die without ever telling him that he loved him. Which was exactly what happened, so Peggy (who dared Cotton to just die already with reverse psychology) made up some nice last words for him to have said about Hank while nobody else was around
• In Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, a large portion of Freddy's Oblivious to Love status stems from his mistaken belief in this trope. He gets over it, though his obliviousness continues to shine in other respects.
• Averted in Avatar: The Last Airbender where the main characters often share hugs and other shows of affections. The ones that are arguably most poignant are Zuko and his Uncle Iroh; when the two of them embrace in the finale, its widely considered a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.

Stand Up Comedy

• Comedian Bill Burr has a theory that men have a lower average life expectancy than women because of all the stress that builds up from their asshole "DudeBro" friends calling them "fag" any time they show any signs of caring, kindness or sensitivity.

Real Life

• Heartwarmingly subverted in this YouTube video where a dad pretends to not hug his little boy because it's 'un-manly', yet kids around and cuddles with his son afterward.