I'm not the type of guy that can catch a fish, nor could I tell you about sports, or a car, or really anything traditionally masculine. However, it's a new age, and with that, a new definition of what it means to be male.

Growing up, I always viewed a man as the football players I saw on TV, or in cartoons- giant, muscular, tough, and they never talked about their feelings, and hated their nagging wives. I can't speak for my entire generation, but that's not the type of man I am, nor the type I want to be. I don't want to contribute to that role, but that doesn't make me less of a male. I'm sensitive, cry too much, and I'm a dramatic, flamboyant gay person. It's not that masculinity is a bad thing. I have masculine aspects to me as well, and since coming to college, I've learned I don't have to separate the two sides of myself.

It's not that being a traditional male is necessarily a bad thing, but it's just not the type of person I am. Now, however, I've learned that our society is much more accepting of sensitive men, of gay men, and of trans men. I find that I'm able to pick and choose the aspects of a man that I want to be, rather than subscribe to an entire identity. Intersectionality is much more prevalent and understood than it was about 10 years ago.

I reflect and realize how lucky I am for the steps that we have made towards combating rigid gender roles. About 20 years ago, I would never have the experiences I have today, of being able to have an identity of a gay man, as well as be part of things like a fraternity, or a soccer team. Simply put, I don't need to separate those two aspects of life.

Whether people like it or not, the modern man isn't always muscular and isn't necessarily straight or cisgender. The modern man is whatever you want it to be, and that isn't confined to a role, or a checklist of interests and values.