This spoken-word piece by the poet Guante provides you with 10 responses to the phrase, "Man Up". Behind the scenes the Mad Art Labbers gave it a big thumbs up. Hope you enjoy it and please spread it around. I feel like more people need to hear this. (Some language NSFW)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayzwzGB2kXw#!
I just went to see the miller "Man Up" commercials. They're really dumb.
The thing that struck me was that when I was younger, "man up" wasn't used to tell someone to be more manly it was calling people on their BS. It was used to tell braggarts that we weren't buying their boasts and if they wanted respect, they'd have to actually do something.
Kid 1: I could totally jump my bike over that cliff.
Kid 2: Then man up and do it.
Was it used differently elsewhere?
Yeah, I think the point is you don't have to jump a cliff or claim to be brave (or crazy) enough to jump a cliff to be considered a "real" man. The idea that men have to always be strong or fearless is a stereotype we can do without.