Vans don't project manliness. Most people don't use pickup trucks for pickup truck things. They'd be fine with a station wagon, but they have self-confidence issues.
I paint my fingernails so I'm not exactly concerned with projecting masculine energy. I just don't like the roof over the cargo area. It feels limiting. Also my primary use case of hauling lawn debris would aggravate my asthma way too much.
This is the main thing. The US is very, very weird in terms of how it genders every possible lifestyle choice, and polices those gender norms. The rise of SUVs in the US was partly driven by things like inconsistent emissions standards, but also by the need to make a more "masculine" alternative to the minivan or station wagon.
