Rock climber Andrew Foster is being called a hero for dying while intentionally shielding his wife from a rock slide at Yosemite. That was an isolated incident, so I only paid it a little attention. But now Las Vegas has shone a spot light on the expectation that men shield women from danger. Here are just five such stories that have emerged so far:

  • Quote at the 38 second mark: "When they knew it was actual gunshots, they laid over top of us every time a round was fired to make sure the women that were around them were safe."

  • James Sonny is a hero because he kept his body between the shooter and his wife, resulting in James being shot and killed. "Bullets in his back as he lay over his wife, protecting her as best he could with all he had available, his body."

  • Bleeding man shields women: "Amy McAslin and roommate Krystal Goddard dived under a table as gunfire rained down on fellow concertgoers in Las Vegas on Sunday night. Eventually, McAslin realized she was being shielded by someone who'd just been shot. 'A gentleman -- I don't know his name -- he completely covered me,' McAslin told CNN. 'He covered my face. He said, "I've got you."'"

  • Kurk Fowler shot while shielding his wife is a "good guy."

  • Photographer explains that man in his now-famous photo "was very clearly shielding [a woman] with his body and protecting her."

I'm all for heroics and unselfish acts, but the media and society seem to be creating expectations for what it is to be a man. And part of what is expected is that you sacrifice yourself for the sake of women.