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We may live in a more progressive society, but the traditional notions about gender continue to exist. Men, for example, are expected to uphold their masculinity. The failure to do so may result in unjust criticisms, and the stories you’re about to read are proof of that. 

This recent Reddit thread highlighted how conventional gender ideas can be harsh, and the guys revealed how bad it can get. For some, it’s being judged for expressing affection toward a pet. For others, it’s the shaming they get for crying like a baby out of grief. 

Scroll through these anecdotes, a lot of which are sad. Feel free to share your own experiences.

Discover more in “My Wife Makes Fun Of Me”: 49 Things Men Are Afraid To Admit Because They’ll Be Judged Hard

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

Man relaxing on couch with a white cat on his lap, illustrating things men are afraid to admit and be judged for. I adopted a cat a few weeks ago. I love this thing more than anything. I was starting to think I’m just a rock, incapable of having emotional stake in anything anymore…..but this lil guy is changing my life. I love him, and I would do anything for him. He’s currently lying on my neck as I type this.

GeneralPhartCaulk , Andrej Lišakov/Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #2

    Bearded man wearing sunglasses lying on grass, reflecting on things men are afraid to admit and be judged for. I don't have a desire to advance on the career ladder, to have a prestigious job and a six-figure income (or whatever is the European equivalent to that).

    I just want an easygoing life. Just being able to enjoy the people and things that matter to me and do a job that gives me joy and purpose.

    ExpertgamerHB , EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #3

    Young man sitting alone in stadium seats looking pensive, reflecting on things men are afraid to admit to avoid judgment. I hate sports. I work in health care and I hate all the stupid sports injuries that set kids up for life times of pain and problems. I hate how it pulls money from actual important parts of education. I’m not anti exercise but I’m anti sport. I hate how sports gets more publicity than half the other issues in our society. I hate how it’s the “only way out” for to many people. I hate that a stupid ball is more important than a book.

    Happy_Twist_7156 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #4

    Man sitting on bed with head down, showing emotions of fear and vulnerability related to things men are afraid to admit. I have a physically disabled 10 year old daughter. Mentally as sharp as a tack. I have 2 other children as well. I've had some serious caregiver burnout here lately and there are days where I just go through the motions. Other days, I just don't want to do it. I feel bad too because the way we connect is through physically caring for her and I don't take much time out to be her dad. I'd never stop doing it, but I'm worn out dudes. And my other kids deserve my love as well. IDK if I believe in God, but if he exists... he's kind of a [jerk].

    Substantial_Sign_620 , EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #5

    Man sitting on bed looking down, appearing worried and afraid to admit his feelings or fears. That sometimes I’m not “fine” at all, I’m just scared that if I say I’m lonely, overwhelmed, or touch starved people will see me as weak or needy and pull away. A lot of us just want a hug, a genuine “are you okay?” and space to be vulnerable without it becoming a joke or a reason to respect us less.

    PopUnhappy3693 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #6

    Man sitting on a couch looking thoughtful, illustrating men afraid to admit feelings and concerns due to judgment. I don't want to work.

    Awkward-Dig4674 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #7

    Close-up of a man with tears, reflecting emotions men are afraid to admit due to fear of being judged harshly. I regularly shed tears because of music or movies.

    TheAmazingDuckOfDoom , Fellipe Ditadi/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #8

    Young man in a white t-shirt sitting indoors, looking away thoughtfully, reflecting common fears men are afraid to admit. That compliments actually mean a lot to me, even tiny ones.

    adamfromonline , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #9

    Man in white shirt looking stressed and worried at a computer screen, reflecting fears men are afraid to admit. I’m okay with not being too ambitious.

    ISeeGrotesque , Toa Heftiba/Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #10

    Close-up of a man showing raw emotion with a tear on his cheek, reflecting fears men are afraid to admit. I recently loss my wife to a horrible disease. I learned that nobody in my life was prepared or willing to see me cry. Literally not one person can sit with me in my grief. When I cry, they back away like I’m doing something perverted or shameful. It’s made the loss much, much worse.

    Affectionate-Sort730 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #11

    Middle-aged man wearing glasses sitting on bed, looking thoughtful and worried, reflecting men afraid to admit feelings. That I have zero desire to have kids. The whole parental instinct thing is something that I've never felt.

    Vinny_Lam , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #12

    Man holding toddler outdoors in autumn, illustrating themes of men afraid to admit their feelings and fears of judgment. I love kids but not in a creepy way. My neighbor was the house for all the kids during covid and I loved hearing them play outside every day. All my friends know that I'm a great babysitter (except for the part where we have ice cream for dinner). My genetics and job make it so I shouldn't have my own kids, so I just spoil my friends' kids with loud toys and sugar.

    FoxtrotSierraTango , senivpetro/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #13

    Empty children’s swings casting long shadows on playground surface, symbolizing things men are afraid to admit. Here's a lighthearted one.

    I loathe the fact that playgrounds are socially acceptable only for children. Why can't I, a grown man, just chill on the swings or monkey bars for an afternoon?

    Someone should make adult-only playgrounds a thing!

    Mind101 , Maria Ivanova/Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #14

    A man looking pensively out a window, reflecting on fears men are afraid to admit and be judged for. It hurts when women assume I mean them harm.

    BOW57:

    It makes me feel sad in a kind of powerless way. I am one of only 2 (remaining) men in 4 generations of my family so most of my social circle consists of women. I see how men's behaviours influence every aspect of their lives. I wish I could do more to make other men see women the way they are, as people: equal, strong, with a full and equal personality and sensible, developed brain and everything that comes with it. It is painfully clear that too many men don't see them that way, otherwise they wouldn't act the way they do. But I still feel sad when other women act towards me in the way they need to if they don't know me. 

    hobanwash1 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #15

    A thoughtful man sitting on a bed, looking down with a somber expression, reflecting men's fears to admit. I've been so damaged from military service/private security work AND just relationship betrayal, that I sincerely think I have a place on the spectrum of psychopathy.

    My emotions when alone are non existent, I've seen so much and lost so many connections that I legitimately don't care about anyone or myself anymore. I'm only pretending to have emotions.

    I'm not trying to sound cool, I'm seeking help as of earlier this year with both psychologist and psychiatrist.

    WeyuCorp426 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #16

    Father and son playing musical instruments at home, highlighting moments men are afraid to admit to avoid being judged. I'm a teacher. People hate teachers. Worse, I'm a man that teaches kindergarten. That automatically gets me the side eye.

    LostSilmaril , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #17

    Young man in a cozy brown turtleneck sweater posing indoors, reflecting emotions men are afraid to admit. I own a women’s sweater and three women’s T-shirts. They are comfortable as hell, especially the sweater. Got them because the options in the men’s section were ugly as hell and the items I got are not feminine looking, they could pass and pass for unisex.

    Zeitgeist_1991 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #18

    A man looking thoughtful and worried indoors at night, reflecting on things men are afraid to admit. I hate most men.

    I grew up with a total softie of a stay-at-home father, and I am forever grateful for it. It sickens me to see so many objectively bad men pumping out kids and gleefully passing their own trauma down generation after generation after generation. They are the poison of the world, and they've built it up so they're rewarded for it.

    ahsop , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #19

    Man lying in bed under white covers holding a remote control, reflecting on things men are afraid to admit. I love Anne of green gables, pride and prejudice (the bbc miniseries with Colin firth is the best), kdramas, and so forth. 

    I hate watching sports. 

    e37d93eeb23335dc , Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #20

    Man sitting on brown couch covering his face, illustrating men afraid to admit feelings and fear of being judged hard. I recently found out my job will be ending in January. I need to move on and find new employment but I just feel paralyzed. My wife keeps telling me to "be a man" and it destroys me every time.

    trialmonkey , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #21

    Young man in pink turtleneck seated against pink background, reflecting on things men are afraid to admit. I like wearing female clothes and wearing make up, and generally pressing “feminine” but I am not a woman, or trans. I’m essentially a reverse tomboy. I have no desire to transition, I’m in a loving marriage with a wife and two kids. I absolutely do NOT associate with LGBTQ+ or “drag queens” and I’m not a feminine man by any means. I do judo, i shoot guns, I’ve been to Afghanistan with the marine corps. I am a god fearing Christian.

    I just like the idea of being pretty, in the way you look at a sunset or a painting and go “oh that’s pretty!” And not in the way you go “she’s pretty because she’s a woman”.

    Busy_Professional974 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #22

    Couple embracing outdoors, showing affection and vulnerability, representing men afraid to admit their feelings. That I love my wife. The amount of weird looks I get from people after a group [complain]-fest about their partners, after I have nothing negative to say about my wife, is astonishing. It feels like the norm is, “that ol’ ball ‘n’ chain at home makes my life hell, she doesn’t cook, clean, and I never [have intimacy] anymore!” Hate my wife jokes and all that never made sense to me. Like, do people ACTUALLY not like their partners/spouses?

    EpilepticSeizures , Kelly Sikkema/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #23

    Close-up of a man with a beard and closed eyes shedding a tear, reflecting emotions men are afraid to admit. Probably that I cry a lot. I live by myself and most times when I watch a movie, I’ll cry if something resonates with me. Even a little. I don’t even know why, tbh. Sometimes I’ll lay in bed and tears will come.

    No idea what my damage is, but I certainly don’t want people I know knowing that I am a mess.

    ChuNder67 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #24

    Stressed man sitting in bed covering his face, working on a laptop, illustrating men afraid to admit personal fears. I don’t want to be a provider or “man of the house”. I’m already struggling and stressing out providing for myself.

    zool714 , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #25

    Man playing with a toy airplane outdoors with his young child, illustrating fears men are afraid to admit. I like kids, in that i think their energy and enjoyment of life is a welcome relief to the gray world we inhabit. Say this around certain people and they immediately think you're a [creep], sadly.

    JBatjj , prostooleh/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #26

    Plush bear toys and stationery arranged on a table in a cozy shop setting, soft lighting highlighting details. I like plushies.

    kamedin , Hoyoun Lee/Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #27

    Man carefully choosing a jacket in a clothing store, representing men afraid to admit their true feelings. I'm jealous of the fashion variety women get to enjoy. They can wear pretty much anything a man can, but also get away with a huge variety of dresses, skirts, etc. and get judged far less for conspicuous makeup choices like heavy eyeshadow.

    AnotherStamp , senivpetro/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #28

    A young man wearing a dark jacket looking thoughtful and worried by a river with buildings in the background. How lonely I am.

    snacadelic , EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #29

    Man and young boy outdoors, reflecting on things men are afraid to admit in a thoughtful moment together. I sometimes regret having children.

    nikokazini , EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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    #30

    Couple embracing on a beach with waves and mountains in the background, illustrating men afraid to admit feelings. I'd like a hug, please. Something, anything to show that I matter to the people around me beyond a money/labour source.

    Thrownawaybyall , Felicia Montenegro/Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #31

    Man with beard resting with eyes closed on a subway train, reflecting men afraid to admit personal struggles. How tired I am...

    I'm tired of working my life away and providing for a family that seemingly only cares if the wifi works, I'm tired of being everyone's rock, tired of getting phone calls or text messages from everyone asking me for help to do things or needing someone to talk to but incidentally when I call or reach out no one's available. I'm tired of pouring love, energy and attention into a partner that doesn't reciprocate even the slightest bit of affection in return, im tired of giving 2-3hour foot rubs but when i ask for any type of attention "shes tired", I'm tired of always feeling like life is a race I'm being forced to run and I'm always lagging behind regardless of the time, effort and energy I put into it. I'm tired of feeling like I'm banging on the walls screaming for someone to take notice that I'm losing a grip on things and no one seems to care. I'm tired of going to my pcp and telling them that my body is seemingly falling apart but all the test come back fine. I'm tired of telling them I need to see a therapist but my insurance doesn't cover that. I'm tired sleep doesn't fix how tired I am, I'm tired that being tired is tiring all in all I'm just tired.

    Malarky_Bandini , Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #32

    Smiling man in red jacket and green hoodie putting on headphones while walking outside, reflecting things men are afraid to admit. My favorite type of music is what people would consider to be "white girl music", I turn that off when friends are over because I've been made fun of for the music I listen to enough times that it's easier to just let them choose the music.

    yeetgodmcnechass , Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    #33

    Thoughtful man looking out window, holding a mug, reflecting on fears men are afraid to admit and judgment. Being a submissive guy.

    There's a lot of negative responses to things like not being a bread winner or not being dominant in the relationship / bedroom. Ton of other stupid things too but if I was able to be transparent about things it would make finding a compatible partner a whole lot easier and I don't think from a girls perspective a partner who cooks cleans and is more attentive to needs is a bad thing ¯_(ツ)_/¯.

    icossalta , wirestock/Freepik (not the actual photo) Report

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