Why is it "man-up" and not "woman-up"?

Men have been the ones with the power for quite a while….It is only recently in our history that women have stodd up to fight back and be equal.

What is the definition of “man-up”?
Then I probably understand what “woman-up” means too, and subsequently understand the details of the question.
Now I don’t.

@rebbel Like stop whining, “be a man about it”, or “take it like a man” etc.

@Blackberry Ah, thank you.
Next I need time to think.

“Woman up” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.

See here for more theories.

No hyphen in either, please. You man up.

I just love your description ;)

Because there has been an almost universal cultural bias against women for thousands of years.

Because its more of a testosteron-esque thing to say anyway. Women don’t need to be told to woman up.

Why is it not “person-up”?

@Mantralantis Because the phrase was invented before society became ridiculously over politically correct.

Man up can be said to a woman also.I have heard this done on my job. It’s kind of a macho man mentality that sadly, some women are not immune to.

@digitalimpression – Yes, I knew that, Dig. I was being overly somewhat satiric. That’s me.

Woman up??? Are you crazy? Everyone knows the woman is always on the bottom!

Badun-dun!

@Mantralantis My fault. I usually catch onto satire. I guess I should man up and admit I missed it this time.

@wundayatta Woman on top can potentially be much bet…. nvm.

@wundayatta not in my bedroom…

Now someone come untie me.

Ok so which makes a better soft drink? Man up, Woman up or Seven up?

Case closed!

@wundayatta Stop being a baby and just seven up already? Hmm….. I like it.

So I was at this PC slo-pitch softball game, and the ump yelled “Woman up!” And all the fans chanted, “Come on, woman, woman, woman. Hey woman, woman, woman.”

Started filling out my paperwork to resign from the human race after that.

@wundayatta Is that a true story? What in hell? (On a side note I find it humorous that “man up” means something like “stop being a baby” whereas “man down” means someone was shot or injured)

Oh God, @digitalimpression if that really had happened, you can be sure I would have already battered in my own head with a glass dildo. I’m just riffing on the concept. Pretending I’m doing stand-up.

Stand up?

Uh oh!

Would you rather have a man up or a woman up if they were doing stand up while drinking a seven up?

Please. Someone. FInd me a glass dildo.

Because women respond best to inspirational encouragement ending with “You Go Girl”!

Because in American society (not sure if the expression is used in other societies) men are expected to not be emotional. So man up or take it like a man, is to hold your emotions and don’t complain. It’s obnoxious in that women are stereotyped as hysterical and out of control, but it is true that women tend to be more emotional, probably a combination of hormones and cultural influences. The expression is a bad one though, we should stop using. I never use it, and I almost never hear it being used.

I have heard some women say to other women that they need to “woman up” regarding certain topics (particularly relationships.)

I prefer saying “grow up” than invoking gender at all.

I still think that men are held to stricter gender behavior expectations than are women today. Men are still expected to be men while women can just be themselves.

It would’ve been fun to have heard the lifeboat crew aboard the titanic yell “Go girlfriend!”
An interesting alternative to ”man the lifeboats.”
Just another example along the lines you suggest.

@pageiv This question is so cute!!
I suppose what @bob_ said. Doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Urgh, the most irritating saying in modern society. Makes me cringe. The thought that men are strong and women are weak is where everything spawns from.

Not every idiomatic expression has to be gender neutral, and I think it’s a bit pointless to try to bring women into the situation when the expression is clearly meant for males.