-Around 13 men in the UK will kill themselves today.
-Caucasian men accounted for 7 of 10 suicides in America in 2014.
-Men die by suicide 3.5x more than women.
We are in the middle of a male suicide epidemic. That may sound sensationalist, but it's true.
Women however, are 20-40% more likely to suffer from mental illness than their male counterparts. So why are the suicide rates higher for men?
Men are more likely to feel pressure to appear strong and in control, less likely to confide in friends and family about personal problems and - crucially- less likely to seek help.
Is this behaviour innate or is it learned? Were our male Neanderthal predecessors throwing rocks at each other to avoid grunting about their feelings?😲
The answer is a pretty resounding "No". We were told what a man should and should not be from childhood in subtle and seemingly trivial ways, like boys being given Action Man instead of Barbie, or more overtly being told to "Be a man", "Grow a pair" or "Man up" whenever they transgress by expressing emotion.
We need to challenge the idea that a 'strong and silent' man is desirable and challenge the notion that men talking, showing emotion and being 'sensitive' is weak.
Ladies, stop looking for "Bad boys" or guys with 6 packs and F*** me lines. Stop looking for guys who are 6ft with jaw lines that you can cut your fingers on. We are infuriated when they objectify and sexualise us, yet we are guilty of doing the same.
What we don't realise, is by setting these unattainable standards; we are hurting boys out there who feel the pressure to meet them, and when they fall short of 'perfection' they find other means to obtain it. The same means that a lot of us have thought about because we don't look like the picture perfect, beauty queens on Tv.
Of course lots of men are relatively happy with the status quo, but it doesn't make it desirable or just. There is a novelty factor attached to the notion of a full- time father and a mother who goes out to work: in many ways, the man who wishes to be a stay-at-home dad can be likened to the woman who wanted to be a surgeon in the 1950's. They both face a similar barrage of sexist assumptions.
It does us a disservice to gloss over the fact that our husbands, sons, brothers and father are all unique individuals. That Mars/Venus division is bull. We are all just people.
When only one sex wins, both sexes lose.
Someone needs to stand up for them. Will it be you?
Or are you content with knowing that you did nothing to help someone in need?👀
Sending you love from Rwanda ❤
P.s Graduation was sweet!
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Feminist AF!
Humor" and I will raise my daughters to believe that they can breath fire" See for yourself why so many of us are proud to be called feminists. I'll make even the strongest none believers pause and think.
