“MEN have bad days. MEN feel misunderstood. MEN suffer. It’s not just women that struggle. Men do too.”
From a very young age most boys and girls are taught to behave a certain way. Boys are taught to be tough, strong, assertive and not to show weakness. Girls are taught to be gentle, nurturing, more passive and that it is okay to show vulnerability. It is when boys and girls deviate from this norm that they are ridiculed or punished and this isn’t right.
MEN have bad days. MEN feel misunderstood. MEN suffer. It’s not just women that struggle. Men do too. Society teaches us that males should be strong, muscular, rich, respected, in control, athletic, the breadwinner and if you deviate from this you are more likely to be looked upon poorly and ridiculed by your peers. For instance, if an adolescent boy is seen as being emotional and crying by his peers he is more likely to be called a “sissy,” “wuss” or a “mama’s boy” than if an adolescent girl is seen crying by her peers. It’s seen as acceptable for a girl or woman to cry, but not as acceptable for a boy or man to show his emotions. We learn at an early age that “Boys don’t cry.” and they are told to “Man up!” This is a double standard and it just isn’t right or fair by any means.
Women that are strong and assertive are more likely to be seen in a negative light. This has effected them negatively, especially those that have leadership roles in the workforce. Society doesn’t look at men and women equally when it comes to being forceful or authoritative in the work force. A woman that speaks strongly or confidently is often perceived more negatively than if a man was speaking in the same way.
Studies have shown that today more women actually prefer a man to show them their vulnerable side. This is especially true when it comes to their family and raising their children. Men suffer from broken hearts just like women do and should not be looked down upon if they choose to show their emotions. We are seeing more and more women take up leadership roles today and it is becoming a little more acceptable for them to be seen as strong and authoritative, but not as acceptable as it is for a man. Hopefully, in time, we start to see us as true equals.