Crying is something that everyone does; it is a natural aspect of life. However, too often and unnecessarily, some people associate a man’s cry to being weak. As if a man were somehow “less man” if he shows his (or too many) emotions.
Anger has always been the only way our culture has accepted that men express their sadness or disappointment. Because masculinity involves stereotypical stoicism, power, strength; and crying has always been associated with vulnerability.
Men are not immune to emotions
At the beginning of 2016, there were many comments on the fact that the President Obama was moved to tears talking about gun violence in the United States. Many wondered if it was appropriate for the leader of a country to show their emotions. These observations were made as if being emotional or crying in some way diminished the power or respect for man.
A different point of view is that crying shows owur humanity or compassion, and not a lack of strength, trust and self-awareness. And those who are comfortable with themselves do not worry about how others perceive the way they express their feelings. People – through their judgments – transfer their fears, worries and doubts about the way a crying man is perceived.
Crying is good!
Crying is important because it allows to express pain, helping people to heal. It’s not a sign of weakness: it allows all the feelings of happiness to be fully lived.
Crying is a normal part of life: if crying was not a normal biological process, then it would not be an uncontrolled reaction! What isn’t normal is stopping crying. Because in this way we don’t experience a natural response to our emotions, allowing sensations to have their natural course.
