It could be the rough hands, or the facial hairs. It might be the bigger muscles and the bass vocals. Theses might be some of the many factors that makes creates a strong setting when it comes to men. They have everything together? They are always strong? They can always provide?

It isn’t that easy…

According to statistics, 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. These might be relatively low figures, but does the fact that a small portion of men only experience this, lead to all being perceived and treated the same as all “normal men” are?

Culturally and historically, we’ve become accustomed to how boys should be raised and be groomed to become men one day. These include, dressing appropriately, knowing which is the opposite sex, knowing what sport to play, and one day the role they will have to play as the guy in the relationship.

There are some men that are really interested in fashion designing or the manufacturing of clothes and materials. There is often a perception that can only “a certain type of guy’ would be interested in that. You need to watch rugby with a beer in the hand, shouting at the television because of your teams bad performance, then you’re a man.

Can’t a man be free to do anything he wants?

All of these aspects are not wrong, but seem to leave out the perspectives some males would want to explore. Can men express themselves emotionally in a way that is free, that would maybe want to jump in the air to be free? Or should they stick to facing a car that does not speak to them, nor can satisfy a release of any emotion they might feel. If you could think of a way that a male should release frustration practically, what would it be? Hitting something or shouting? What if he went to the spa, or choose to get his feet soak to relieve the stress? I believe men have been set ways of things they should do, and this is a continuous cycle, because it is passed down generationally, from Dad to son.

Expectations on men are generally a huge contributing factor to the cause as well, which leads to the suppression of their feelings and emotions and never have it surface to truly say or show how they feel. In some social norms and standards, men need to really follow these ways to be seen or deemed a “man”. They are mostly expected to be their person that pursues, who pulls out the chair for the lady, who opens the door before they walk in, and yes, I know it may be polite and optional for a guy, but how does the affect on the emotional wellbeing, unknowingly to a male. He could be creating expectations internally for himself to be everything people expect him to be, to be the one that provides, that can always go that extra mile, that can give your safety. All of these are good quality traits, but who does those things for the guy?

It needs to be clearly stated that men should not be conformed to a linear state of just following in ways that older generations have followed. They should be able to express themselves and be themselves without any unrealistic expectations set for them to reach. That they to can get affirmation that when they no longer following to norm of being a man that they are not deemed any less, just because they are being themselves. Alleviation to be accepted if they make mistakes, get upset or angry in a moment and just walk away, but that they will still maintain respect and have the principles instilled in. Men would be much better when they are supported more as well, when they are open to being helped, to speak when someone would want to listen to them, and not be ashamed of it. Knowing that men experience they very same thing any other person would. They can become depressed, sad, they can cry too.

This would also give rise to the balance and the equality when men and women are given equal opportunities in the workplace, have division of roles in their households and assist each other in things they do. Therefore, it will always be a give and take, where you are contributing, you will be receiving as well, because the other person has identified your willingness to grow