What It Means To "Be A Man": In Today's Stereotypical World

“Be a man,” “suck it up,” and “don’t cry” are only a few phrases handpicked from a plentiful basket of ego damaging constructions built into today’s society. Boys are born loving creatures, but at a very young age they are taught the traits, diminutive language, and mindset that aligns them with society’s concept of what it means to be a man. The things that we say about each other can truly be damaging, especially if we keep perpetuating gender stereotypes.

Real men don’t cry

The myth that men are unemotional puts social pressure on boys and men to keep their feelings covered up. This stereotype goes hand in hand with the view that men are bad at expressing their feelings and communicating.

Not all of us are completely out of touch with our emotions.

Real men don’t ask for directions

This one is code for “Real men don’t ask for help”. Men are expected to be the providers for their family – the people that others depend on, not the ones that need anything. If you’ve ever been in the passenger seat of someone who is lost and won’t ask for directions, you’ll know that this social pressure to avoid asking for help is definitely more trouble than its worth.

Not all of us miss the things that “men never notice”

Did you change your hair? Get your nails done? Some men will actually pay attention to the small details and care enough to let you know that they’ve noticed.

I am a man. The sort of man who prefers not to be stereotyped. I like to think that our horizons can be as broad as we want them to be.