In western culture, men are expected to be stoic providers—individuals who are valued for what they offer society, first and foremost. They have also been traditionally valued based on their physical strength and mental toughness, without a tendency to show softer emotions. Although recent years have seen this outdated perspective…
Living with ADHD isn’t always easy. This condition, which may feel like a superpower at certain points, may also feel like a burden on other days. For adult men with ADHD, their hyperactivity or inattentiveness may be expressed in specific and unique ways compared with women. Men are often expected…
There is a common misconception that men don’t have feelings—or, at least, not to the same degree as women. In reality, we all experience a wide range of feelings. We feel happy, sad, angry, frustrated, heartbroken, scared, betrayed, and the list goes on. However, men are often less likely to…
Many men are expected to be strong—no matter what. They wear a suit of armor at all times to deflect difficult emotions and to avoid being labeled as sensitive or effeminate. If this armor “fails” though, they may resort to hiding what breaks through their defenses, often by keeping their…
Within the past several years, the term “allyship” has been commonly used in relation to movements such as BLM, or the LGBTQIA+ community—referring to a non-community member who goes out of their way to provide support socially and emotionally to those who experience higher instances of discrimination. With large social…
According to Mental Health America (MHA), women experience depression about twice as often as men. That said, several studies and surveys have also shown that men are less likely to seek help for things like depression—which might create a false idea that women are more likely to struggle with this mental health problem. The…
It’s difficult for many people to admit they need help and then to actually seek out that help—it’s sometimes even more difficult for men. That said, it’s important that men (as well as women) ask for and seek professional mental health help when they need it, as counseling can help…
Depression is characterized by despair and lack or loss of interest in daily activities; other symptoms include feelings of worthlessness and changes in weight or appetite. Depression can also present differently in men, as some symptoms are more common than others. First, men often distance themselves from those closest to…
Fathers often lose control of their anger and use cruel measures of discipline on their teens. They can benefit from leading with patience and understanding, instead. A Rochester study observed that when conflict arose, fathers often lashed out in anger at their kids. They assumed their teen was being intentionally…
It’s officially November which means one thing and one thing only… it’s time for the men of planet Earth to grow a beard. No-Shave November is all about growing a thick, lustrous, manly beard that commands the respect of other men, women, and even household pets. Since the worldwide stubble…
Scott Griffiths is a National Health and Medical Research Council Fellow at the University of Melbourne. He researches eating and body image disorders, including muscle dysmorphia, anorexia nervosa, body dysmorphic disorder, anabolic steroids, and the contributions that masculinity, femininity, and stigma make to these. In this TEDxSydney Talk, Scott discusses…
Just as men have some unique physical issues because of our biology, we also have some unique psychological issues because of the way we were socialized. This process starts early when baby boys are touched less and later touched more roughly than girls. It continues in the expectations that…
