Unlocking the Secrets: 30 Shocking Truths Men Believe Women Will Never Truly Grasp About Their World

Being accused of kidnapping my kids while taking them to the playground. That was fun. Women going out of their way to avoid me when walking on a street (crossing the street). I get it, but wow does it hurt. Feeling crushing anxiety and not being able to show it to basically anyone. My wife interprets it as me being unstable/unable to be the provider, even my therapist assumed I was just not wanting to face my demons and that I need to get over it. Gotta keep it in. Being really sick and told it’s manflu. Having me sense of self worth basically pinned to my ability to earn money Very specific, but illustrates the point: I once was at a conference and I saw two ladies walking ahead of me. One was carrying a purse by its handle and it was hanging down. The purse was unzipped and stuff was starting to fall out as she was walking. I ran up and interrupted and pointed out the purse was open and stuff was about to fall out. They both looked at me and asked why I would be looking at her purse and called me a creep and walked away.

Feeling_Nerve_7091 , Gerd Altmann Report

Middle age loneliness, particularly for married guys with kids. If you’re not a middle age bro [jerk], you probably have no friends. None. Maybe you’re amiable with work colleagues, maybe you have a game night with some neighbors, but they’re barely more than acquaintances. Your last friend was 10, maybe 20 years ago in the before times. Seems like It’s almost a societal expectation at this point.

spiderscan , RDNE Stock project Report

 I have a terrible issue with crying, even when I’m at my worst and feel a constant urge to cry for weeks straight, I won’t and can’t. Sometimes I think I can’t cry without permission. I am well aware that I don’t need permission, but my body doesn’t care.

TheEvelynn , Alena Darmel Report

Being expected to be able to step up in scary situations when you are scared sh**less yourself and don’t want to either.

Nolan- , Max Harlynking Report

You can shake it, you can thump it, you can beat it on the wall, but until you zip the zipper, the last drop will never fall.

AlphaMaelstrom , Help Stay Report

Just how f*****g lonely it is. You are expected at all times to be a simultaneous combination of guardian, emotional caregiver, leader, and provider, on TOP of being relatively successful and 100% independent. And you have to ALWAYS be these things, 100% of the time. It’s emotionally exhausting. I know that readers may see this and list any number of the various advantages our unfair society affords men, and I won’t argue that they aren’t there. But I will state that I feel, and probably many other men would agree with this, that society doesn’t really care about the emotional, mental, or social health of men. Chris Rock famously said that only women, children, and dogs are loved unconditionally; men are loved under the condition of what they can provide. I agree with that statement. It’s incredibly dehumanizing and dispiriting to constantly be told what society expects from you and wants you to be, as if all you are is a paycheck to support a family or a fearless leader who exudes strength and never falters.

Just_Plane952 , cottonbro studio Report

Trying to figure out if I should pay: I should pay on the date to be polite but I also should also have us split because we’re equal but there’s a gender pay gap so I should pay because I’m a man but gender roles are meant to be cast aside? I…I….I AHHH

User , Khoa Võ Report

Being looked at as a pervert or weirdo for taking your kids to the park or store or anywhere. Any age too! Newborn all the way to teenager!

gigglemonkee , Derek Owens Report

it’s not okay to be a stereotype who tells a woman to get in the kitchen and make me a sandwich, but it’s acceptable if not downright encouraged for a woman to knock me for not being able to lift something heavy saying “you’re a man, you’re supposed to be able to do this!”

kbyyru , cottonbro studio Report

When a woman expresses her feelings and/or problems, everyone can’t get enough. When a man does, he is either ignored or told “man up dude”. And this is something that’ll go on forever.

User , RDNE Stock project Report

Trying to talk to others about mental health (both mine and other’s). As a child, my mother struggled with mental health but she was wise enough to get help and through that became determined to break the cycle in our family. She gave me the tools to deal with these struggles myself (and for others). So now, well into my 50’s I’m an empathic, caring man, father, husband that can listen well (typically offering the advice of…you should get some professional help but I’m here for you). The problem is, any men in today’s society judge my help as being “soft” or, “nosey ” or being a “wash woman”. Personally, I don’t give [very] but it is a sad statement in our society.

butkusny , Centre for Ageing Better Report

Trying to find the balance of being emotionally vulnerable and masculine in such a way that maintains attraction. This leaks into communication, [intimacy], outward behavior, and [darn] near everything in a relationship.

OatmealStew , Daniella Garcia Report

The ever lasting circle women put us in where they want us to communicate openly and honestly and then when we do, we have to justify what we said and spend a half hour explaining how what we said wasn’t an attack on them but rather a logical statement. Gets annoying to the point I don’t care to have an opinion anymore.

anon , RDNE Stock project Report

My wife and I are very affectionate with our young son. Tons of hugs and kisses. I know that there will be a point where he will no longer want that from me specifically but will be okay with her still showing that kind of love.

smcamp23 , Dominika Roseclay Report

If we don’t express our emotions in a way that matches expectations, usually through actions and body language, they generally aren’t received or taken seriously, even when communicated clearly. It typically doesn’t matter how we *say* we feel. Then if we go so far as to have an outburst like yelling or crying, the emotions are finally understood and taken seriously, but they change people’s opinions of us, and usually in a negative way. There is no “I was just upset” excuse for us. We have to remain in control at all times because we’ll either be considered too scary or too weak, but in doing so, we’re constantly told that we don’t open up enough.

heyitsvonage , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

Talking about your mental health. In recent years I’ve become more open about it but a lot of the men around me just won’t open up about it. There are people I know who have ended their life because of mental health issues. I think it’s a difficult conversation no matter your gender, but a lot of men are told to “[be bad] it up” or told that “men don’t cry” so they have to keep it all inside.

alexlduffy , cottonbro studio Report

I had a situation in that I overheard my fiance’s mother once say to her in very different words that men have only two emotions. Rage and [excited]. Basically sounded to me like she thought all men with emotions were just con-men lying to get [intimacy].

Foodstuffs08 , PIX3L_PRODUCTION Report