Rethinking Masculinity

What does it mean to be a man in the context of the patriarchal system?

In traditional societies, gender roles are determined by social values ​​and norms, roles which are often rigid and create a patriarchal system with marked differences between men and women, both in the political, social and individual spheres. From this system expectations are created for men to represent masculinity in the traditional sense, creating a narrow definition of it. This rigid definition of masculinity encourages men to suppress emotions because expressing these emotions is seen as a sign of weakness, thus harming their mental and physical health. Consequently, in this context the need to challenge traditional concepts of masculinity becomes increasingly clear.

What does it mean to be a man in the context of the patriarchal system? How do traditional gender roles affect men’s emotional well-being? What are the consequences of emotional suppression? How can we promote healthy expressions of masculinity so that men internalize emotional intelligence?