‘The Way Our Culture Treats Boys Sickens Me’
“So I try to laugh about it, cover it all up with lies. I try to laugh about it, hiding the tears in my eyes. Cause boys don’t cry, boys don’t cry.” This classic song by ‘The Cure’ portrays an attitude that is increasingly being recognized as causing great harm to boys as they grow up, pressuring them into feeling guilty or ‘weak’ for expressing their emotions in a natural and healthy way.
This Facebook post by Lyra Balearica shows that it isn’t just men that sustain this damaging cycle, it is far ingrained into the western culture and many women are just as responsible. Lyra shared a story about a woman who chose to berate a boy for nervous tears before getting blood drawn by telling him to ‘man up.’
Because attitudes do not change overnight, it is only by having this conversation that we can begin the process of ‘normalizing’ the freedom for boys to express themselves as they wish. Various types of research have shown the damage that emotional suppression can have in later life, so learning how to respond to and regulate emotions accordingly is a vital thing for children to learn. Scroll down below to see the post for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Lyra Balearica recently witnessed a gender stereotype of “boys don’t cry” still being used today and decided to speak up
Image credits: Lyra Balearica
People had lots to add:
