But when men are told to hide their emotions at all costs, those feelings have to go somewhere. For instance, a man who is experiencing sadness or depression might be more likely to act aggressively or get angry over something small, rather than cry.Įmotions that are associated with dominance or strength are viewed as more masculine, even if the underlying emotion fueling the behavior is different. In fact, men who experience sadness or grief are more likely to channel those feelings into different emotions that are seen as more socially acceptable. But because it’s not socially acceptable for a man to cry when he’s sad, it can make it seem like men don’t experience sadness at all. Research shows that men experience emotions at the same level that women do. Just because men are told to hide their emotions, doesn’t mean they don’t have them. Over 30% of men will experience a period of depression at some point during their lifetime, and about 9% of men report having feelings of depression or anxiety every day. However, men also deal with mental health disorders and mental distress. Statistically, women are more likely to get diagnosed with depression or anxiety. The same can be said about mental health. Specifically, men are told that crying in front of other people will threaten their masculinity. Doing so can ruin their image of being strong and stoic. From an early age, men are conditioned to believe that expressing their feelings is out of character with the male identity. There’s no argument that women are more likely to show their emotions than men. However, suppressing emotions and feelings can be incredibly detrimental to a man’s mental health. Because of that, many men neglect to show their emotions because they’re afraid of the repercussions. Men who express their emotions are often seen as weak.

These cultural norms and gender stereotypes have been circulating for generations, and they can be toxic, especially for males. But men, who are seen as strong and fearless, are not encouraged to outwardly express their emotions.

Because women are often viewed as “sensitive,” it’s socially acceptable for them to express their feelings, like sadness or fear. When it comes to processing emotions, there are different expectations for men and women.

Guys have feelings too