How to break macho mould

Shake the stigma behind men talking about their struggles.

- Garton Gsell

For a species so enamoured with being rational, we sure do love to cling to irrationality. Sometimes, this is done knowingly - like the irrational attitudes we hold in support of our favourite team that is wholly mediocre on every level - but more often than not our irrationality seeps out in our behaviour without much consideration. Given just how complex our world is, we tend to rely on a simplified internal model of society, freeing up much of our thinking to more important matters. But this comes with a trade-off: the more we rely on mental shortcuts (heuristics) to navigate the world, the more stereotypes can influence us. We simplify a complex world by relying on mental shortcuts. However, this shortcutting comes at a cost: the more we lean on these internal models, the more weire influenced by stereotypes. And for men, this can be particularly harmful, impacting not only how they are perceived but also how they experience and express their mental and physical well-being. In this whirlwind of societal pressures and outdated ideals, it's no wonder men often struggle to prioritise their own health. Stereotypes are the lifeblood of prejudice. Anyone who wields a stereotype to treat someone differently (whether good or bad) is acting wholly irrationally. Racism, for example, is a cascade of stereotypes about people who look different to us, leading us to alter how we behave and treat others.