Is It Okay For a Man To Cry?
Why is it more acceptable for women to cry because of personal or professional setbacks, but it’s uncomfortable to see a man cry? Society. It expects so much of us when it comes to masculinity and femininity. People make assumptions and have expectations about our behavior based on cultural norms. People expect men to be more forceful, competitive, and aggressive. They expect women to be cheerful, compassionate, and understanding.
We all have personal and professional setbacks and we all experience the same feelings. Take a look at your organization. Does it allow people to be themselves or does it pressure them to conform to traditional expectations when it comes to masculinity and femininity?
Considering this, build a supportive communication climate at work where people can be authentic without worrying about how they will be judged.
For more of Kit’s insights on improving gender communication within your organization, watch this presentation. And, don’t forget to check back next Monday for another video blog.