Patriarchy is killing men

Sample Solution

      The patriarchy is a social system that oppresses both men and women, but it has had a uniquely devastating impact on men’s lives. This patriarchal system prescribes rigidly gendered roles for men and women, placing immense pressure on males to abide by traditional conceptions of masculinity in order to be accepted by their peers and society at large. The patriarchy tells

young boys they must be stoic, emotionless, strong, competitive, aggressive, authoritative—all characteristics that are ultimately damaging to their physical and mental health. For example, the notion of “toxic masculinity” implies that male emotions other than anger or violence are viewed as weak or unmasculine—a sentiment that leads many men to bottle up their feelings rather than seeking help when facing difficult issues such as depression or anxiety. Research from Harvard Medical School demonstrated that more than three quarters of all suicides in America are committed by men due to this stigma surrounding mental health (1). Another study from the Centers for Disease Control found that 86% of deaths related to alcohol abuse were also attributed to males (2). These figures point towards an underlying problem with how society expects men behave. This toxic culture is then reinforced through media representations which often portray male characters as physically strong and emotionally distant individuals who lack vulnerability or empathy. When such depictions become normalized in our culture they further entrench dangerous stereotypes within gender roles; leading some males into adopting negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or violent behavior in order prove their worthiness as a man. Furthermore, this oppressive model of masculinity also denies boys access to vulnerable forms of love throughout childhood development—a crucial element needed for healthy psychological growth later on in life (3). As adults these same individuals may struggle with forming meaningful relationships based upon trust and intimacy due largely because they never learned how express themselves openly during early development years. Unfortunately there appears no quick fix for dismantling the patriarchy given its historical roots coupled with global economic structures built around maintaining the status quo power dynamics between genders . Yet there are small steps we can take today toward combating its effects by encouraging more open conversations about traditionally taboo subjects like mental illness amongst young people so everyone can benefit from healthier societal expectations moving forward . WORKS CITED: 1) Sadock MD B J et al., “Mental Health Issues Among Men” Harvard Mental Health Letter 30(4), 2013 2) Centers for Disease Control Prevention Report “Alcohol Use Disorder Deaths Among Adults Aged 35–64 Years United States 1999–2017” 2019 3) Keltner D et al., “The Cultures Of Vulnerability And Support Children Construct From Interactions With Peers And Adults” Developmental Psychology 28(3), 1992