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Louis Staples
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The expectations placed on both men and women aren’t always easy to fulfil.
Gender norms often hurt both sides, but men often suffer from not feeling able to talk about their problems.
Feminist writer Caitlin Moran has started a conversation on Twitter, asking men to tell her the things about their lives that they struggle with. We know that women have it worse in so many areas, from sexual harassment to equal pay, but that doesn’t mean life is perfect for men.
From baldness to feeling unable to talk, guilt over past behaviour, making the "first move" and mental health, the conversation really struck a chord with men online.
Some of the replies are hilarious…
@caitlinmoran when my wife leaves the room she blows out the expensive candles as they're 'wasted' on me on my own...— Andrew Glover (@Andrew Glover) 1539863165
But most of the replies are heartbreakingly honest, lifting the lid on the inner dilemmas that men experience but seldom talk about.
@caitlinmoran Probably the worst part about being a man is the fact that we all have real problems and would love t… https://t.co/wkR0YJl3Pd— Burkhart (@Burkhart) 1539915104
@caitlinmoran It sounds ridiculous when you say it but one thing for me, as a person that has suffered with anxiety… https://t.co/uQZDB5SqM8— Adam Townsend (@Adam Townsend) 1539904401
@caitlinmoran Hey thanks for thinking of me. I appreciate the acknowledgment. I worry about losing my job and letti… https://t.co/DM9AV3yyKx— Bobby Johnson: v1.47.0 (@Bobby Johnson: v1.47.0) 1539915162
@caitlinmoran The traditional expectation for men to make the first move. Masking the fear of approaching and putti… https://t.co/P5LzzgNdk4— Karl Cramer (@Karl Cramer) 1539911951
@caitlinmoran @HSugarCookie Making the first move all the time kinda sucks. You gotta be the one to ask, the one to… https://t.co/df50p4Pyw5— Brogan Holmes-Briggs (@Brogan Holmes-Briggs) 1539911836
@caitlinmoran The two biggest ones: - I genuinely struggle to open up emotionally to anyone other than my girlfrie… https://t.co/7ICjpuLO7S— Mike Searle 💙 (@Mike Searle 💙) 1539935287
@caitlinmoran How being smart or kind or respectful were consistently represented in media as uncool traits exhibit… https://t.co/vOuiafpiZ0— JD (@JD) 1539935260
@caitlinmoran The idea that if you're not: drinking heavily, trying to shag everything that moves, living and breat… https://t.co/m5EZPKvwLG— Neil Walsh (@Neil Walsh) 1539925723
Obviously, a Twitter thread won't change wider culture, but it's heartening to see so many men being honest about these issues. It's clearly opened some minds already.
Together, if we keep talking, these things can slowly change.
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