Bratgirl, my answer to this, hands down, is character. I dont care what a guy looks like, how much money he has, or how many women he has dated or been with. A real man in my book is one who is honorable, compassionate toward others, kind to his family and friends, can be trusted, and keeps his promises.
I know people, (and Iam thinking of one in particular in my own family who Iam estranged from) who is the most decitful, untrustowrthy, liar I have ever met. This guy has made a ton of money in his life, but he has nothing. His long term marriage broke up, his son is estranged from him, and hates his guts, and all he has is some desperate amoral troublemaker for a second wife. To me, this is not a "man".
Conversely, my grandfather, who was solidly middle class his whole life, but not rich, was a real man. He was as honest as the day is long, an honorable businessman. (He once borrowed 60K from a client in 1952 to start a business without a contract, which was the way many Europeans did business in those days, and paid back every penny with interest). He was married to my grandmother for 52 years, was a good husband, never cheated on her, and was an excellent father and grandfather. Although he wasnt rich when he died, to me, he has more riches during life then someone who accumulated a million dollars in wealth. He was a real man, a rugged individual who was not full of himself, or phony, a guy who what you saw is what you got. I would sooner be a man like my maternal grandfather than the other guy I mentioned, who is my father by the way.
So, that is my definition of a man. We all may have different views on this, of course, but this is how I see a real man. Good topic. I will be interested to see other reactions on this.
Mitch
