When I was getting my master’s degree in counseling psychology, I took a course called Counseling Men.
I reached out to some experts to find out.
It’s what’s always on their minds, or so society would have us believe.
Bennett told me about a study done at Ohio State University that debunks this myth.
So it turns out that men may be exaggerating their sexual experiences and desires while women play coy.
Men feel the weight of them too.
“It is a false belief that men do not have similar pressures to women regarding body image.
Professional counselorBill Prasadtold me this isn’t true for many reasons.
“Sometimes, it is in our 30s, 40s, 50s, or 60s.
We may look back with fondness and look forward with focus.
“Men aren’t born with a rejection gene.
They talk less than women
We don’t often think of men as being particularly chatty.
In fact, the “strong silent bang out” is something of a male archetype.
But where did this notion begin?
After all, it turns out to not be true.
The recorders turned on every 12.5 minutes and recorded for 30 seconds.
They found that both males and females averaged around 16,000 words per day.
The most talkative person in the entire study was a man!
It turns out men just have to feel like what they have to say is worthwhile to say it.
Terri DiMatteo, a relationship and couples counselor, explained the difference.
“Men demonstrate their love and commitment by being present.
By being there,” she told me.
“Simply ‘showing up’ is their way of demonstrating their commitment.”
Is he supporting your goals and ambitions?
Is he helping you with housework?
Is he making an effort to see you and show you that he appreciates you?
The commitment just might already be there, ring or no ring.
The only problem is that males aren’t always dominant or well-suited for those types of things.
Many of them have no interest in it, either.
It’s as if masculinity hinges on whatever society considers macho in the moment.
What’s the big deal?
Researchers think this helps explainwhy men die younger than women, despite having more resources.
They simply don’t go to the doctor because it isn’t the “manly” thing to do.
Hopefully as this shift occurs, more men will feel comfortable with their masculinity in whatever form it takes.
