Societal Expectations and Gender Roles - Society places higher expectations on men and boys than on women, leading to an unwritten curriculum about how men should be [1] - Boys are taught to be strong but not whole, suppressing their emotions and hindering their humanity [1] - Men are conditioned to postpone their grief, and society often invalidates their feelings [2] - Aggression is celebrated, while vulnerability is shamed, molding boys into armors instead of human beings [2] Impact on Men and Society - Broken men raising families can lead to violence being mistaken for power [1] - Men may struggle to express their true emotions, leading to broken leadership in various sectors [1] - Men are not excused for not having money in materialistic societies, leading to pressure and unhealthy relationships [4] Solutions and Recommendations - Society needs a new revolution of reprogramming boys, giving them permission to feel and validating their fears [2] - Fathers and male mentors should act as mirrors and guides, teaching emotional literacy and the ability to apologize [3] - Women have a responsibility to hold space for the men in their lives, creating a safe and non-judgmental environment [5] - Emotional intelligence should be embedded into the curriculum, removing the shame that men are socialized to feel [5] - Focus should not be solely on women's programs, as it unintentionally excludes and stereotypes men [5]

For this piece, I chose to reflect on gender rights and why they matter, not just in theory, but in real life. Although it's a topic often debated in politics or discussed in the news, I've come to realize that gender rights shape people's everyday experiences more than many of us realize. My understanding of this changed significantly after I spent a few months living in Abu Dhabi in 2023.At first, I will admit I wasn't thrilled to leave Ireland. But after only a few weeks, not just me, but my entire famil ...