Who do you think is manlier and why? I have mostly given specific examples of people, but this applies for the general stereotypes they reflect more than the individual.
The US Marine.
The Marine, hes tough, hes rugged and you wouldn't want to fight him down the pub. Your story about how you fixed your leaky sink pales in comparison to his retelling of a harrowing 4 day march under enemy fire to deliver food and medical supplies to a remote refugee camp (you think he was making up the bit where he delivered a baby though).
Adrian Peterson
Hes like the marine, only he has bigger muscles. He epitomizes the warrior ideal that violent sports serve to support, only he doesn't have to do those trivial things like med evacs or stopping terrorism. Luckily, that just means he has more time to lift weights. He also has cheerleaders, so, you know... yeah.
Obama
Screw the warrior, we all know the best warrior is the king, thats why hes the king. Sure, Obama might not quite live up to that in physicality, but his leadership qualities are alive and well. Whats manlier than being a leader people look up to?
Tom Cruise
Hes like superman, only hes real, only hes kinda not. But that doesn't matter, because hes successful, good looking and cool enough to make you believe that he is actually a fighter pilot, secret agent and a 19th C Admiral all at the same time.
Bill Gates
Ok, he doesnt have the looks or the muscles, but hes successful. So much so he could probably afford to have all of the above come to his birthday party and burst from the cake topless. Everyone has their price, and he can match it.
Dalai Lama
What? Yeah him. Sometimes its harder to open your heart and love than it is to hold a grudge. If all men were like him, the world would be a more peaceful place. And hes actually quite of a troublemaker for someone that looks a bit like my granddad. He knows what is right, and hes willing to stand up for that, regardless of the consequences. What could be manlier than integrity?
Homer Simpson
Ok, hes a flawed character, but he loves his family and would do anything for them. Hes a decent, hard working man and who can fault that?