Our culture so often has begun to put stereotypes on to everybody and it is majorly affecting those who are being stereotyped. The worst part about it is that many of the stereotypes are false, unhealthy and hurtful and all they do it put us in "boxes".In my opinion, one of the worst stereotypes is being a guy in this culture. We have been given some of the most restrictive and most limiting stereotypes of all. Guys are supposed to be what? Strong, without emotion, tough men that won’t ever break and that handle anything without any outside help. As men we have been put into this box that culture has either intentionally or unintentionally built around us. The problem with this is the fact that it creates a stigma telling us we have to be unemotional, lone rangers that are silent and unwavering in themselves.

I want to personally say that I have emotions. Each and every single guy has emotions and we truthfully love to be able to express it. Even more, than that being able to express not only the good emotion but rather the sad ones. Believe it or not, guys cry too. So many times we have been told that tears are a sign of weakness. That is bologna! Guys emotion makes us so much more real! I have learned that the more emotion I express the better I feel. In fact, each and every one of us was made to feel and to share those feeling with others. Don’t let culture, Hollywood or even sadly sometimes other guys tell you any different.

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Secondly, we are not meant to be loners on a crusade to prove how tough we are. It’s like in all the movies the guy says he has to leave the girl because he has to go do something on his own because it is his destiny. That’s dumb! We need other people in our lives, girls, and guys. We are designed to be in relationship with others which means we are meant to have friendships and to find others we can relate with. We should not be trying to get through everything alone and in our own strength. Yes we are guys and yes we like to brag about how strong we are sometimes and we like to imagine we are warriors in our own right but it’s being with others that makes us who we are. No more being alone dudes! Find people, get connected and become even stronger and mature together. But that’s not all there is more that puts us into boxes.

As a guy, we are often expected to be the leaders and the one who others can run to in their times of need. However, we also need to be able to have others support and pour out into us. Each one of us will stumble and fall and in those moments we need someone to pull us up and be there for us. That is part of why we can’t be lone rangers. But most importantly is seeing that guys are weak! Guys are human! We as guys are imperfect and flawed just like everyone else. So next time you look at us, maybe try and realize we aren’t so amazing, at least not in our humanness.

So guys how about we step out of these culturally set stereotypes and show the world who we really are meant to be? How about showing the ladies the goodness in our hearts or our families the compassion we have inside us? Men, what if we cried a little more, stopped worrying about being so manly, and started being real and showing what it really means to be a man? I think our generation could set a new normal for what it means to be a man. Let’s redefine what being manly means once and for all.