By: Ainsley Webb

A common stereotype is men aren’t supposed to show their emotions and women are seen as weak and over emotional. 

“I think as being a male, we are supposed to hide our emotions and taught not to cry,” said freshman, Adin Lepe-Canfield.

An article in Psychology Today by Nathan A. Heflick reinforces Lepe-Canfield’s perception.

“Research has asked men and women what emotions are socially acceptable for them to express. This work shows that most emotions are more socially acceptable for women to express than men (e.g., sadness, anxiety), but there is a key exception: anger,” states Heflick in his article. “Anger is an emotion reserved in the public sphere for males, though research shows men and women report feeling the same levels of anger.”

Women and men both get the same emotions. But yet men have more of the authority to get mad in public than women. The other side of this gender norm is that it is more acceptable to see a women in public crying than a man. 

“I feel like men showing emotion is attributed to being weak and vulnerable is seen as bad for men but also when women show emotion they are seen as overdramatic,” says senior, Tieler Brown. 

Brown thinks it’s possible to change the gender norms around showing emotion.

“Normalizing expressing emotion for men and validating feelings for both men and women and non-gender conforming,” says Brown, “rather than re-labeling people when they do express emotion as well as making it known that both men and women and non-gender conforming people alike, are able to and should reach out for help if they are struggling and need support.”

He adds: “Shout out to youth line.” 

Youth line is a teen to teen crisis helpline. They help you deal with your everyday struggles. Youth line is confidential, and open 24/7. You can contact them over phone call or text!

Phone Number: 877-968-8491

Text: teen2teen to 839863