Social Changes
Gender equality has made tremendous progress in the last century, but the range of ways that men can express themselves still has a long way to go.
People often assume that the world is gonna get better on its own, without anyone doing anything. Unfortunately, this is not the case. With something as deeply ingrained as gender roles and stereotypes are, we must actively work to change them.
The way parents and teachers encourage or discourage certain activities or characteristics plays a large role in shaping how children construct gender roles (source).
Boys and young men should be taught that
- there is no one correct way to be a man
- they don't have to be tough, like violence, or be attracted to girls in order to "be a man"
- asking for help, talking about emotions, or expressing physical or mental weaknesses are healthy and necessary
- they should accept all other children and people
Companies should also not market certain toys/clothes/colors as specifically "for girls" or "for boys". This can teach kids that girls and boys inherently should want different things and act in different ways, which can lead to negative stereotypes or gender roles.