Men’s Issues That Are Often Overlooked
Because men are supposed to be strong and confident, right?
It all starts with one question.
How are you?
Have you noticed that when men get asked this question, whether it’s by a friend, girlfriend, or colleague, they almost immediately say that they’re fine or they’re doing great? Then they ask the person the same thing, and the conversation goes on.
Why is that?
To start, men are inclined by default to portray the role of a strong, reliable person that people can look up to.
They’re seen as the provider of the family, the one who has to make the first move, the one who asks women out on dates, the one who has to carry the heavy load, and so on.
It’s ingrained in their minds to “be a man.”
Toxic masculinity aside, this incredible phenomenon has been practiced and observed by almost every society in the world and no one dares question the struggles they’re facing.
“So if I’m a man, I can never be weak and vulnerable?”
How many young men out there, adolescents even, do you think have asked themselves this question throughout their lives?
None of us probably know because hardly any of us talk about it.
Can you imagine a community of men gathering to vent their frustrations anonymously because they’re not comfortable with people knowing who they are? Well, such a community exists. A lot of these communities do.
Look it up on Google. You’ll find forums like Reddit or online groups where men are talking about how their voices aren’t being heard or how they aren’t given enough consideration to discuss their thoughts or feelings.
You’ll find it. It’s all there.
More often than not, they have this fear that if they ever show any sign of weakness or vulnerability, God forbid they’re automatically considered incapable, soft, or worse, sensitive.
Why does there have to be other words to describe this behavior? Why can’t they just be men who want to talk about their problems and frustrations?
Is it so drastic that the world is bound to turn sideways if people created a safe space for emotionally expressive men and women in society?
I checked out a forum on Reddit, and lo and behold, many users were sharing in-depth details about their experiences relating to men’s issues and frustrations.
Some of the results I found?
Isolation.
Insecurity.
Loneliness.
Not having anyone to talk to.
What’s even more alarming is that these things can be easily resolved if only they had the right community supporting them whenever they want to get something off their chest.
If you really think about it, how has it come to this?
There’s no question that men feel a certain obligation to care for their partner or to be the alpha. They feel admired when they are seen as strong, capable, and self-assured.
But are they comfortable with keeping up these appearances? Can they keep up these appearances?
For those that can’t, guess what happens?
Depression. Mental health issues.
These are serious consequences that lead some men to commit suicide. Which brings us to the following staggering statistics:
- In 2021, men died by suicide 3.90x more than women.
- White males accounted for 69.68% of suicide deaths in 2021.
- Suicide is the 2nd most common cause of death for men under the age of 45.
An article states that the suicide rate in men differs because of the following factors:
- Traditional male gender roles discourage men from expressing themselves emotionally.
- Most men don’t get themselves treated for depression or are less likely to seek professional help.
- Some men prefer to self-treat through the use of vices such as alcohol and other substances.
There are a number of articles on the internet talking about men’s issues and how we can help them, but not much has changed based on the data.
Men are still encountering these problems and they are suffering in silence.
It’s not that they can’t talk about it or don’t know how to. But in many ways they lack the support and resources to help them heal and recover from their mental and emotional dilemmas.
Conclusion
Addressing this issue is the first step in resolving it. How can one do this?
By noticing the signs. By asking them questions. By showing them that you’re willing to listen.
When they are given enough attention, they will eventually open up little by little. It’s likely going to be a long and difficult process, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Men have problems and that’s normal. We should also normalize letting them feel comfortable talking about it.
