“Manning up” does not mean letting people abuse you. I don’t tolerate abuse much.
And there is nothing “manly” about demanding that a little girl defend herself against a bunch of nasty bullies. That is cowardice. That girl’s parents should have been defending her. They are her PARENTS.
Are you a man? You protect her, and other women and children.
Don’t shove her into the pit and tell her to figure it out herself. Don’t put your fingers into your ears as she cries for help, soothing your conscience by saying you are “toughening her up.” No you’re not. You’re abandoning her.
If we were talking about a grown man I’d agree with you. But we are not talking about a grown man.
“Manning up” does not mean letting people abuse you.
That's exactly right. Nor does "manning up" mean calling in others to stop people from "abusing" (i.e.. making fun of) you. In my book, "manning up" means dealing with it yourself. One way is to turn your cheek and go about your business -- in other words, to choose not to be offended. That's one way of "not letting people abuse you." Another is to disarm it with humor. Dr. Laura gave her yet another suggestion for resolving it.
I was the youngest of five kids in a happy but wild and ranging passel of kids. At the age of six, I learned to man-up and deal successfully with what you surely would call "abuse." It has served me well in the nearly five decades that have followed.