Reply #105: Okay, even *I* get this.

[Sparkly]

As I've said, I'm one of four sisters -- no boys. But I see this notion of "manly men," with "balls," who aren't "pussies," who don't "throw like girls," etc...

I saw the word "men" in quotes as a challenge to those men, alluded to obliquely in the OP, who'd either walk away from their responsibility for an unwanted pregnancy, or stake some claim on a woman's body.

The word "man" is so loaded ("Are you a MAN or a mouse?" "Stand up like a MAN!" etc.) and I think this use of "man," in quotes, is a challenge to go beyond the typical idea of strength and courage ("balls," "muscle," etc.) to a different kind of strength and courage -- conscience, consciousness, empathy, responsibility, all those "wussy" things.

So I thought the word "men" in quotes was eloquent.