The phrase man up is a zinger that’s caught on with women who pride themselves on being strong, irreverent, and post-feminist. Men have been using the phrase as well. It’s a challenge that implies a lack of courage and empowers those who use it.
The Republican candidate for Senate in Nevada, Sharron Angle, challenged her opponent in a recent debate. “Man up, Harry Reid,” she said. “You need to understand that we have a problem with social security.” In the Florida race for Senate, the two male candidates told each other to man up and stop the spread of negative rumors about each other.
A challenge to man up assumes the speaker is tougher than the other person. It suggests a lack of manliness and strength. It still contains a certain sexual overtone because men can use it in a different way than women. After all, it would be hard to imagine a male candidate suggesting that a female opponent needed to be more ladylike to be qualified for the office.
