What is the language of men?

The short story, "The Language of Men", by Norman Mailer addresses what it means to be a man and stereotypical gender roles. Sanford Carter used to have just some army job at which he lacked motivation. However, once he somehow makes his way to army cook, he seems to find his niche. "This was the happiest period of Carter's life in the army" (126). Carter enjoyed being army cook so much he started improving the cooking and adding more effort when preparing the food. He made the eggs to the soldier's desires, each made personally and given time and care. He added spices to the chicken and would make pies and cakes. Carter felt like a housewife, he did all of the cooking, put in a lot of effort, but never seems to be appreciated. "They seemed to eat without tasting the food" (125). Carter began to despise the troops as much as he used to despise the cook. At the end of the story, while Carter felt that he had become a man, he realizes he could never understand the language of men.