What does it mean to 'be a man?'

"Be a man." It's a common phrase, used without even thinking.

While these three little words may seem simple, the phrase implicates a deeper issue within our society. Assigned gender roles have been engrained in our minds from day one. Girls are sugar, spice and everything nice, and boys are rough, tough and rugged. But, what if this is not the case? What if you're a boy who loves pink, or a girl who loves sports...are you meant to feel "less?"

Cut Video asked men ages 5 to 50 to answer the question "what does it mean to be a man?" Their responses are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Watch here:

As we move forward as a society, it's important to remember that neither boys nor girls necessarily fit into gender specific roles...so the statement "be a man" is simply obsolete.

So, we'd like to know. What does the phrase "be a man" mean to you?

More from AOL.com:
Meet the 14-year-old changing the world for transgender youth
'Tatcalling' — appreciation or harassment?
This is what it's really like to be gay in Russia