you are men

[frindle]

Hello. What does "men" mean in this context below?
I don't think it's just a man. Can it mean 'a commoner'?
(Here the Stepfather is a trader and the Mother is a noblewoman.)


The Stepfather traded in teas and coffees, spices, perfumes, so he had promised to tell his captains to keep a lookout for the best pieces of Venetian glassware and Chinese porcelains, and to spare no expense. The Mother shook her head, gently but firmly, to tell him : No, my dear, you are men, how could you be epxected to have a dainty eye, you will end up foolish wasting money if you attempt this gift.

[EyseBlaauw]

Mother is saying that she believes that there are differences between the sexes in the ability to discern "dainty" things. Some people might be offended by that, others will have no problem with it.

[BobK]

...and, to clarify, 'men' in this context refers to the stepfather and his captains.

b