Men Shamed for Violating Masculine Norms

Men should be strong, forceful, and dominant.

Otherwise, they will be seen as weak or feminin, and will be shamed for it.

They will be labeled “less masculine” or “gay” and live in fear and insecurity because they think something is wrong with them.

But guess what? Nothing is wrong with men who don’t conform to masculine norms.

It is because of society’s toxic gender stereotypes that these men have become afraid to show who they really are and become what they really want in life.

Men are shamed for showing vulnerability.

Men have a reputation for being able to hold their own in any situation. They must be firm and powerful without showing any signs of vulnerability.

For instance, school bullies. You might have noticed how school bullies are superficially strong and always angry, but deep inside, they’re emotionally vulnerable. They just won’t show it because they’re afraid to be seen as weak.

Men are shamed for being attractive and caring about their appearance.

Women can wear makeup, dress up in high heels, and wear jewelry all day long without any consequences. They can improve their appearance and no one bats an eye about it. In fact, they are even praised for it.

But when a man does the same things, society thinks that they’re broken. If they like looking good and want to spend money on themselves, they’ll be called a narcissist.

They are told to “man up,” to stop being so feminine, and to stop talking about how they look and what they want.

Unfortunately, they are shamed for being attractive because society has created this image of masculinity that’s unattainable, and that is what men strive for.

Men can be powerful and brave. They can protect the ones they love, but at the same time, they also want to be beautiful. And there’s nothing shameful about it.

Men are shamed for being gay or bisexual.

Gay men are shamed for being gay, and bisexual men are shamed for being bi. Gay men are assumed to be looking for sex, whereas bisexual men are assumed to be confused about their sexuality.

In the eyes of a judgmental society, gay men are not only immoral but also dishonest. They have deceived their friends, family members, and strangers into believing that they’re straight just to pursue a sexual relationship with them.

They are also shamed for being feminine. They’re called “femme” or “effeminate,” which is a derogatory term that implies that gay men are less masculine than straight men. If they wear make-up and have long hair, they’re accused of being sissies.

However, even if they appear masculine, they’re still ridiculed for it. They’re called “nelly” or “straight acting,” which implies that they’re more masculine than straight men. If they wear sports jerseys and play football, they’re accused of being jocks who are trying to fit into a heterosexual lifestyle.

Honestly, there’s no escape from it.

No one should shame or pressure a man to be masculine.

Men are just as vulnerable as everyone else and sometimes aren’t sure what to do or where to turn to. And that’s okay. That’s not being weak, that’s part of being human.

Being vulnerable, open, dismissive, and feminine as a man is okay. No one should shame you for that.

More importantly, it shouldn’t be a statistic, an isolated event, or some sort of oddity. It’s an unfortunate side effect of an often unfair and brutal world in which we live together.