Facial hair: a man’s second penis

OK, don’t let the title scare you off, but think about it.  In my experience with men, I have yet to come across a man who was blasé about his facial hair.  Most men are incredibly attached and protective of its image, as if it is a statement of manhood: thus the comparison.  I understand that I am generalizing but I have found this to be the common response.  I bring this up because over the holidays my husband was able to grow facial hair (something that is not permitted while he is on active duty).  My husband is a hairy man and able to grow hair quickly and after a week he already had a very decent size beard.  I found it humorous at how frequently he would stoke the hair on his face without even realizing what he was doing an it reminded me of a small child finding their privets for the first time: always touching and curious of the feel.  I have also observed he need to brag of the lusciousness, or length or even the ease of his beard to his male counterparts the same way I have been told men’s locker room talk tends to veer.  On top of all of this, he became attached very quickly and I would even use the word protective of his facial hair, meaning he refused to shave it off and would become offended if others said anything negative about his hair growth.  I have observed this same behavior in friends and other males I know to assume this is more than just a quirk of my husbands.   For some reason facial hair seems to be imbedded into their minds as a masculine trait, as if the bushier the beard the more masculine one is.  I would love to hear your input and maybe some stories that support this theory J