Breaking Stereotypes

Why is it that we are raised in a particular background with particular sets of things that guys are supposed to do and that girls are supposed to do. Who set this set of differences in 

chores between genders? And why are these being carried from generation to generation? There has to be a time when it stops. From childhood itself ‘pink’ is the colour for a girl and ‘blue’ is the one for a boy. Why is that so? Boys are supposed to play with trucks and cars while girls are to play with dolls and kitchen sets. Boys are supposed to go out and work and the girls are supposed to stay back and take care of the household (not in every case). Girls are called qualitative while boys are called quantitative. Today, I wanna talk about the boys and everything they go through because even their voices need to be heard and amplified! (This is just because I’ve seen many people raising their voices of how girls struggle for this issue but not many for the boys <3)

The society has developed a mindset that boys should be ‘tough and strong’ while the girls are ‘sensitive and caring’. But I’m in complete opposition of this absurd mindset as these traits are certainly not developed looking at the ‘gender’ of a person. If you are tough you are tough but if you are emotional YOU ARE EMOTIONAL! Then it doesn’t (or rather shouldn’t) matter if you are a boy or a girl! Under a tough situation it is always assumed that the boy will be strong and take charge but what if the boy is a little scared too? What if he’s not ready?

“Boys Don’t Cry”

I am sure you must have heard this particular statement a lot but I raise the question WHY? Why can’t boys cry? I mean,

 aren’t we all humans? Isn’t it like human nature to feel emotional and just spit it all out and CRY? So if I am getting this right, boys aren’t supposed to have feelings, they are supposed to behave like rocks. That is what the SOCIETY apparently wants.

In this era where we are constantly talking about “MENTAL HEALTH” “MENTAL WELL-BEING” and its awareness, it’s high time we start normalising men getting hurt and ‘crying’ and

just stop judging them for it.

“Oh, look he’s crying over such a small thing, such a girl.”

“Dude why do you like cry so much are you a girl or what?”

I’ve heard such comments a lot and I just wanna say that you being emotional or you showing feelings or ‘crying’ (something that humans obviously do) doesn’t decide your gender or anything about you. I don’t know why people (just some) make a whole big deal of boys being sensitive. I mean even the doughtiest of people cry when something straight away hits your heart. Stop making them feel awkward for just being EMOTIONAL. Also, you have no idea (absolutely no idea) of what a person might be going through so just stop making things worse.    

“Man of The House”

 

In many cases I’ve also seen that the boy of the family is constantly being told that ‘You have to take charge of the family’ ‘You have to be independent ASAP” “Focus on your career and don’t waste so 

 muchtime with your friends” Being constantly told things like this can mentally exhaust you especially when you are just a teenager or are young. In my opinion it is a lot of pressure for the boys to deal with. They already know everything so not pointing things out for them would definitely be better. I understand that you have a lot of hopes and expectations from your sons but just try to understand them a little too. And on the other hand, the girls are almost never ‘given’ the responsibility of leading the house or being in charge (I’m not saying that they cannot do it but parents if they have a son too, almost never prefer to hold their daughters responsible for such things). So I think the girls (not always) don’t feel the constant pressure of responsibilities and duties lying ahead for them.

 

Makeup!

It’s said that boys don’t (or rather can’t do makeup) but what is the problem? Believe it or not but makeup is a form of art and your gender doesn’t decide whether you can or cannot do it.

If someone feels content by putting a few layers of makeup on then, what’s the big deal? If building a career with makeup is a boy’s passion then, what is wrong with it? I’ve seen many Indian boys coming up on social media platforms and showcasing their talents and it honestly makes me so so happy that they can finally reveal who they actually are! A big big shoutout to everyone who know what they want and are doing it without giving a care about what the society will say. Believe me it takes a hell lot of courage to do that. The changes in the mindset of people (only some) makes me feel really good. But then when I read the comments, the trolls make me furious. If you cannot appreciate someone better do not make fun of them too. It’d be just fine if you didn’t comment.

(I’ve just taken up the stereotypes that are mostly pointed out! Others exist as well.)

On the brighter side I’d always say that a lot of changes are also being made. People’s mindsets are changing (it is slow but also visible). Let’s hope for more positive changes. Let’s hope for more acceptance. Let’s hope for a society free of any kinds of stereotypes. Let’s create a safe space for the boys where they are not afraid of letting their feelings out, where they are not afraid of doing things they like, where they do not have to fear being judged but most importantly where they can be carefree and where they can pour their hearts too. Because remember boys have hearts too ;)