There are stereotypes and expectations about how men should behave and be. Google “How to be a Man” and the world and his dog has advice on the topic. What if we teach our sons instead that there is no right way to be a man?
We’re all unique, regardless of gender. We all experience the world differently. We process stimuli around us in different ways. We think diversely.
We all out our emotions in a unique way. Some people hide emotions, bottle them up and let them ferment. Some cry. Some cry silent tears. Some cry hidden tears. Others cry with raw primal emotion for loved ones to see. Some out emotions with rage; after all society accepts that readily from a male.
Our childhoods are diverse and we are all moulded by our childhood, by the events that make up our lives. How we cope with what life throws at us cannot be determined by a stereotype or an expectation of peers.
Some men are breadwinners. Some men are stay-at-home dads.
There are boys who love team sports. There are those who prefer individual sports.
When we tell our sons that ‘this is how to be a man’, that there are traits that are male, and others that are not, we cause irreparable damage to that young boy.
A teenage boy that feels different, who doesn’t match the stereotypes thrust upon him, will feel he is lacking.
A man who feels he doesn’t live up to the expectations of how a male should be will hide his true self.
And nobody wins.
Wouldn’t it be something if we stopped saying ‘be a man’ and replaced it simply with ‘be yourself’.
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Hey, thanks so much for linking to me. You’re definitely right. I’m picturing a series of PSAs like those old Reese’s commercials with the tagline: “There’s no RIGHT way to be a man.” 🙂