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Men Stay Silent: Dave's comments from four years ago certainly apply in many families. They don't apply in mine, as my wife is definitely willing and interested in hearing my feelings. And, my children get a lot of space to be emotionally open, even when tears are what result.
I think another causal factor, though, within our society is homophobia. I remember as a child being taunted by other kids, called a faggot or homo. I'm not, but it made it very clear to me that being too close to men/boys was not safe. That was reinforced in many ways through my parents divorce, betrayals, and worse.
Yet, ultimately the experience of being a man I would think is best understood by other men. I can imagine what it is like to be pregnant and give birth, but I am under no illusion that I have a clue. I could be off by 175 degees. In the same way, I don't think women can as easily understand the way my mind, emotions, hormones, and drives work. Nor how to balance them out. Women compliment men, just as men compliment women. It provides for intimacy as well as balance. It doesn't, necessarily, yield a meeting of the minds. Or, more deeply, a meeting of the hearts.
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