Modern society is gradually blurring the lines between things that used to be considered strictly "masculine" or "feminine", both in the professional and personal spheres. What was taken for granted half a century ago is now certainly being criticized and rethought.
We must say that men still remain more conservative in this regard: while enjoying something "typically masculine" for a modern woman is really cool and always worthy of support, many men still perceive "typically feminine" activities as guilty pleasures. But the situation is gradually improving.
One day a thread appeared in the AskReddit community, where the topic starter asked: "Men of reddit, what's something you enjoy that's considered unmasculine?" The thread collected nearly 1.2K upvotes and over 2K different comments, where men revealed their most diverse activities and hobbies. We have to admit that it turned out very interesting and really informative.
Bored Panda made a list of the most popular and original answers from this thread for you, so feel free to scroll to the end of this compilation. And if you are a man and you did not find your hobby in this list, perhaps you will share it with us as we highly appreciate this.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
My girlfriend regularly buys me a women's shower gel called "snow fairy", a pink product that smells *amazing*. She knows it's my guilty pleasure and I don't care that I'm a tall, burly guy in the army.
Nobody messes with my snow fairy.
My husband, also a big burly manly man, has a similar “guilty pleasure”. He likes to soak in a hot bath, using the sweetest smelling bubble bath he can find. He. Does. NOT. Care. What. Anybody. Thinks. About. It. See, he injured his back when he was in his twenties, and in his forties it started to really ache if he overdid it. He soaks in the hot baths to soothe his aching back, so if he also wants to smell flowers/citrus/vanilla while doing it, that’s a privilege I wouldn’t dream of taking from a good, loving, hardworking man like him. Besides, it makes the bathroom smell good for me too!
Cats. Cats are the greatest things in the world because they're like tiny, stupid people.
Cooking, baking, gardening.
I'm a 33 year old punk rocker.
My (I'm ashamed that I'm ashamed sometimes - working on it) hobbies. except I'm a metal head nearing the 50 year mark
Female metalhead nearing 50 here 👋🏼 (and for many people being a metalhead isn't feminine!) I don't think that these things are not masculine. I experienced that it's been odd to people if the chef in a restaurant or the baker in the bakery was female. But if men would cook and bake at home it's odd as well. People "sometimes" aren't the smartest species on the planet.
Load More Replies...
Baking is great, it’s like creative science that makes you popular at work
True, but they get paid for it, so that's ok. Doing it for nothing is woman's work/s
Load More Replies...
You will always be able to grow your own food AND cook it, plus have a nice view out your back window while eating! You are a 100% real catch if you keep your house tidy as well!
My husband is a 55 year old man's man. And he LOVES cooking and baking. He even loves it more that me and our three children rave about it all the time. He loves spoiling us!
I'm a record producer and an IT tech... I LOVE to cook and have done so professionally! My Mom was an OB-GYN and always wanted to be a caterer! Slay!
I've been cooking and baking since forever, and gardening since the start of COVID. I love it. ❤️ 😎
It's called life skills. Everyone should be able to do these things, not just women.
I never understood thinking that cooking wasn't masculine. In home life, people act like it's a woman's job. In the restaurant industry, kitchens are full of men. I worked as a sous chef for 18 years. In that time I only had 3 female coworkers. Cooking is one of the most masculine things you can do
As an ex professional pastry chef, i would say (purely due to the fact that Kitchens almost always seem to employ more male chefs than female) most of this is bollocks lol!
Most of the world renowned chefs are men. Baking is a type of science. And nature is to be enjoyed by all as we are from the dirt.
For the longest time there were no professional women bakers they were all men so....idk how this turned around to being unmasculine
My partner is such a good cook, and he has absolutely no shame in telling everyone that he loves cooking
I'm not gonna lie I can't bake to save a kitten... So, if I can find a man who likes to bake that is a huge bonus. I don't eat a lot of sweets but im happy to taste test lol.
I love cooking and baking, and I want to get into hydroponics or aeroponics. I just can't be bothered to do any of it for me.
You sound amazing Marry me? (Because I hate all these things, I'm a power tools, love my favourite screw driver kind of girl).
Literally none of this is feminine. I've been cooking since childhood, and now I'm a chef. Never once has anyone told me it's girly.
Whaaaat? In our country it's almost 100% men that do the gardening, almost never a woman. The most a woman does in the garden in SA is prune the roses.
I'm not much of a baker or gardener, but I enjoy cooking. My friends and I just got back from a convention, and I cook all the meals for us to bring and microwave in the room so we don't have to buy inflated convention priced food.
Flowers. Flowers are f*****g pretty and if anyone has a problem with that then may god have mercy on their souls.
*Cuddling*. That's what I like even though I look like a Mountain of Pure Testosterone and Anger. Sometimes the Meanest looking Men have the kindest of Hearts.
I cut down trees, I eat my lunch
I go to the lavatory
On Wednesdays I go shopping and have buttered scones for tea
Crying when I'm sad.
My dad was the president of the local biker gang when I was a kid and it was him and his 'brothers' that taught me it was ok to cry. Big, Burly, ba dass bikers but they were sensible, well rounded dudes!
Baking, its science you can eat!
Just deeply caring for people. Men usually are portrayed as not caring at all but I definitely do.
This one is just sad that stereotypes portray men as how they can’t care about others
I know how to sew and draft sewing patterns. But everything I make is badass. I work in a machine shop and the guys love seeing the stuff I make. Hoping I can make something for my GF soon.
I like french braiding hair. It's unfortunate that I have no daughters. And it's a little creepy for a 39 year old guy to offer that to people, so I haven't do it in a long time.
I let my wife fight my battles on the phone with insurance companies, medical billers, vendors, banks, credit cards, whatever. She does it for work as a biller herself and she relishes going into combat with those people.
My husband is the same way lol he will start the call and if it goes pleasant, then awesome, the second anyone starts being rude his exact quote is" well I was trying to be pleasant, but now you have to deal with my husband...I am truly sorry" and then I take over haha
Actually loving things, embracing physical contact, and treating everything with care and respect.
This should be normalized! I hate our world sometimes and how stereotypical we’ve made it that a gender can’t show care!
It's been a while, but I used to really like to crochet.
Taking a long hot bath. Especially in the winter after going to the gym, coming home and just relaxing in it is honestly one of the best feelings in the world.
I wear makeup sometimes. I understand now why women say they wear it for themselves and not for other people.
Makeup is an art 🤌🤌 it's makes you feel good and gives you confidence
Flowers, cleaning my entire apartment and lighting candles, singing and dancing, and outwardly showing love and concern for people around me. Everyone says they want to be known that they're loved before they die, then act so weird when a guy says they do.
i like using those little puff ball things to shower and like the flowery pretty smelling soaps over the typical ones sold to man. I like vanilla lilac and almost breeze over diesel bear engine, tornado fist explosion, and bulsa wood smells/flavors
Women's hair. I can layer/texture and blend. I can do 2 tone/free hand color however you want/however you want/across a spectrum of ombre to balyage.
My husband cuts my hair and the hair of our daughters. He even does their hair sometimes, especially our oldest who is special needs. He really loves the bonding time with the girls.
I don't know exactly what it is but my SO has bath stuff that makes the water kind of milky and smooth. I used it once. Would definitely use it again if the mood struck. Made my beard crazy soft, like a super conditioner.
First of, thanks for this question. I feel like it's an important one for men to read the answers to.
Now for my own answers:
I love when people play with my hair. It was one of the reasons I grew it out back when.
I'm very keen on physical contact (with permission of course), like hugging, people touching my shoulder while talking to me or vice versa...
Crying during emotional scenes in movies
I think this one is very deep in our biology. My bf loves getting scrithes and so do I until I reach my sensory input limit, but sometimes I think we're just two old monkeys sitting on a sofa and scratching each other's backs
Jewelry, hair care, poetry, and I can't see a puppy without making a scene.
I love jewelry too! Hygiene is important and shouldn’t be ridiculed. And you’d be just cruel to see a puppy and not fall in lone instantly!
Looking after my skin, my favourite part of the day is cleaning my face- exfoliating and then moisturising.
I make sure to look after my hands, I've had ex girlfriends say it's very "gay" of me to do so. What's wrong with having nice skin......
Having stuffed animals. They're so cute. I also use them instead of pillows and they are much more conforming to your head and neck than a block of fluff. I also decorate my place with them as pets are not allowed where I'm staying.
My best friend’s husband is such a big guy his nickname is Magilla (as in old cartoon Magilla Gorilla). When they were a thing, he loved Bernie Babies. Went out of his way to get collectible ones. Had them on the dashboard of his truck.
I enjoy chick flicks. Not all the time but they're usually worth the watch. I've probably watched The Ugly Truth five times haha
Talking articulately about feelings. Also, related, talking with people where the point is to get to know someone and develop a bond with them, rather than to exchange factual information to get a task done. And yes, I'm aware that the latter does create real bonds between people, and can be an awesome solution for men who are not comfortable talking about their feelings. But I prefer to skip this "pretend we're actually only getting together to do stuff" part and cut right to the getting personal part.
If i see a cute animal when others are around, i try my hardest not to have my usual reaction... I feel like people would laugh... I brows both r/aww and r/eyebleach
Im also knitting a scarf
Talking about my feelings, It took a bit to be able to do it but now I can have conversations with my friends a majority of them being girls about how I feel about things or how I am doing mentally. So many guys don't understand the benefit of just venting away frustrations, ever since my bros and I have been having deep psychological discussions about how we feel we have changed so much. we are more responsible and level headed and we know that our plans our big and that it is taxing mentally and that sometimes all you need is a hug and a good talk.
I get it! I’m a gal, but I’m super shy so it took awhile for me to vent to others. It’s helped a ton!
Leggings. Not only are they comfortable as a mother f****r, but they come in awesome colors and patterns. Plus, different durability quality. Hiking in a good pair of leggings is a God send compared to heavier cargo pants.
Rings and bracelets actually look so good
Fancy coffee drinks with little hearts drawn using the foam.
It's not considered feminine anymore but was for a long time... cooking!
I love cooking, basically anything to experiment with new foods.
Growing my hair long. Although I will look like Gandalf the next time I decide to do it.
It's so weird that long hair was such a normal thing on the 90s guys and now it's almost like we've gone backwards
Apparently listening to, singing along with older Katy Perry and Taylor Swift songs is Unmasculine. Still love to do it.
Love this, i was in the Marines when Teenage Dream was released. My MG crew would sing that and California girl all the time! Sang a lot of Lady Gaga in the field as well.
Princess movies (e.g. Disney), magical girl shows (e.g. Sailor Moon, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, etc.), & the color pink.
Not unmasculine per se but I can’t get enough of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Entertainment, bitchiness, drama, humour...what’s not to like!
I enjoy romance anime and I refuse to be shameful of it
The movie 'To all the boys I loved before'. Watched it with my sister and I think I enjoyed it more than she did
I unabashedly admire strong women. Sometimes for their physicality, like Simone Biles or Serena Williams, whose power and grace are simply astonishing; sometimes for their intellect and courage, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Stacey Abrams and Elizabeth Warren (Tell me Warren wasn’t the smartest person the stage in the 2020 Democratic primaries. I’ll fight you.) Physicist Janna Levin, science writer Ann Druyan, comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, journalists Robin Young and Amanda Marcotte, activist Greta Thunberg, actresses Kate Winslet and Frances Mcdormand, the list goes on. Amazing women still being amazing in a world in which they have to wade through so much prejudice and bile and unreasonable expectations. 💗
🫵 You’re gonna have to fight me. I’m 5ft tall and 65 years old, but my friends will guarantee you’re gonna lose.😆 Mayor, now Secretary Pete. But yes, Elizabeth Warren is incredibly smart, especially in financial. Liked her idea about just 2 cents on the dollar from all the richer than God people. And everyone else on your list. BTW, have you checked out Congresswoman Katie Porter? SO BAD@$$. Any of these so called brilliant businessmen should be on their knees crying and begging not to have to be questioned by her.
Load More Replies...
i love holding my wife's hand when we're out and about , been called all kinds , still do it , i really dont care what you think
Wait, where are you that people talk bad about that? I hold my wifes hand all the time and have never heard a word about it.
Load More Replies...
True. A cousin of mine is a competition level ballroom dancer and so so many people are surprised as heck that he's straight.
Load More Replies...
Errr, NOPE! Crafting with hands, whatever it is, understandable. Interest in the natural world, flora & fauna, is, well, natural, instinctive. Research/insight into love/relationships, even if the source material is rom-com or Disney - excusable. Gardening (Capability Brown), sewing (any number of couturiers), cooks/bakers (the world's best and most famous chefs): all men! All the 18th century romantic poets - men, hardly afraid to express their feelings, and often enjoyed and recited by masculine men through the ages.
Can I add "wearing something other than blue jeans and lumberjack shirts" ? ffs. I hate it.
I find this whole article highly annoying. Traditional masculinity and balanced male actions/emotions can be the same thing but this article tries to state otherwise.
This is such a negative way of looking at it! To me it's about what used to be considered feminine, but for no good reason, and prompting men to embrace that part of themselves. Pure wholesomeness
Load More Replies...
That's always been my thinking behind it. It also keeps my eczema at bay so it's a double win by looking after them
I am so sorry that men have grown up with toxic masculinity. The idea that you have to do X, Y and Z to 'be a man' is utter rubbish. Be kind, be compassionate, love the people around you, love life - that's how to be a man!
This is such a wholesome, lovely article. The men who shared seem like fantastic people, and confident in their masculinity to not give a c**p what the naysayers say. I wish all men embraced their feminine side (which of course would mean a different thing for everybody)
I unabashedly admire strong women. Sometimes for their physicality, like Simone Biles or Serena Williams, whose power and grace are simply astonishing; sometimes for their intellect and courage, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Stacey Abrams and Elizabeth Warren (Tell me Warren wasn’t the smartest person the stage in the 2020 Democratic primaries. I’ll fight you.) Physicist Janna Levin, science writer Ann Druyan, comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, journalists Robin Young and Amanda Marcotte, activist Greta Thunberg, actresses Kate Winslet and Frances Mcdormand, the list goes on. Amazing women still being amazing in a world in which they have to wade through so much prejudice and bile and unreasonable expectations. 💗
🫵 You’re gonna have to fight me. I’m 5ft tall and 65 years old, but my friends will guarantee you’re gonna lose.😆 Mayor, now Secretary Pete. But yes, Elizabeth Warren is incredibly smart, especially in financial. Liked her idea about just 2 cents on the dollar from all the richer than God people. And everyone else on your list. BTW, have you checked out Congresswoman Katie Porter? SO BAD@$$. Any of these so called brilliant businessmen should be on their knees crying and begging not to have to be questioned by her.
Load More Replies... i love holding my wife's hand when we're out and about , been called all kinds , still do it , i really dont care what you think
Wait, where are you that people talk bad about that? I hold my wifes hand all the time and have never heard a word about it.
Load More Replies... True. A cousin of mine is a competition level ballroom dancer and so so many people are surprised as heck that he's straight.
Load More Replies... Errr, NOPE! Crafting with hands, whatever it is, understandable. Interest in the natural world, flora & fauna, is, well, natural, instinctive. Research/insight into love/relationships, even if the source material is rom-com or Disney - excusable. Gardening (Capability Brown), sewing (any number of couturiers), cooks/bakers (the world's best and most famous chefs): all men! All the 18th century romantic poets - men, hardly afraid to express their feelings, and often enjoyed and recited by masculine men through the ages.
Can I add "wearing something other than blue jeans and lumberjack shirts" ? ffs. I hate it.
I find this whole article highly annoying. Traditional masculinity and balanced male actions/emotions can be the same thing but this article tries to state otherwise.
This is such a negative way of looking at it! To me it's about what used to be considered feminine, but for no good reason, and prompting men to embrace that part of themselves. Pure wholesomeness
Load More Replies... That's always been my thinking behind it. It also keeps my eczema at bay so it's a double win by looking after them
I am so sorry that men have grown up with toxic masculinity. The idea that you have to do X, Y and Z to 'be a man' is utter rubbish. Be kind, be compassionate, love the people around you, love life - that's how to be a man!
This is such a wholesome, lovely article. The men who shared seem like fantastic people, and confident in their masculinity to not give a c**p what the naysayers say. I wish all men embraced their feminine side (which of course would mean a different thing for everybody)
