Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Powerful New 'Boys Don't Cry' PSA Examines The Destructive Cycle Of Toxic Masculinity

Powerful New 'Boys Don't Cry' PSA Examines The Destructive Cycle Of Toxic Masculinity
White Ribbon/YouTube

Toxic masculinity is a concept that has been widely discussed over the past few years. It describes the behaviors that men exhibit to prove their masculinity which are detrimental to themselves and those around them, especially the suppression of emotion and inability or refusal to show vulnerability or weakness.


The term came to the immediate attention of many after Gillette released their short film We Believe: The Best Men Can Be in January of this year. The film called on men to interrupt the cycle of toxic masculinity and call each other out on inappropriate behaviors.

White Ribbon, a Canadian non-profit who work to prevent gender-based violence, released a PSA titled Boys Don't Cry on February 26th to coincide with Canada's Anti-Bullying Day on February 27th.


Boys Don't Cry | White Ribbon PSAwww.youtube.com


White Ribbon's mission statement reads:

"We engage men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence by promoting equity and transforming social norms. We challenge and support men and boys to realize their potential to be part of the solution in ending all forms of gender-based violence."
"White Ribbon asks men to wear white ribbons as a sign of their pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls."


Where Gillette's PSA focused on encouraging men to step up and change their behavior, White Ribbon's highlights all of the ways boys are conditioned not to show fear or be weak. It depicts the behaviors boys and men will engage in to prove they are "real men" to themselves and their peers.

These behaviors can be very destructive, as in the case of the boy in the film choosing to lash out violently against another child who had bullied him. Or his behavior toward girls when around his male friend.

In contrast to We Believe, Boys Don't Cry focuses on the journey of a single boy as he grows from a child into a young man. Words said to him, and the acts of others he witnesses, shape his behavior as he ages; he progresses from a sensitive child into a young man who hides his vulnerabilities behind a veneer of bravado.









Some people were also confronting ignorance surrounding White Ribbon's message on Twitter.



Hopefully, by confronting and examining the factors that contribute to toxic masculinity, people can begin to consider ways to combat them. Getting rid of the phrase (and idea) "Boys Don't Cry" seems like an excellent start.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Kid Rock
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Kid Rock Dragged After Donning A Truly Over-The-Top Outfit For His White House Visit

Singer Kid Rock was slammed for wearing a loud patriotic costume inside the Oval Office as Republican President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday against ticket scalping.

The rocker's outfit consisted of a red, white, and blue jacket emblazoned with two eagles facing each other above the American flag with the number 250, a nod to America's upcoming 250th anniversary, and white stars on his sleeves.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Bill Cassidy
CNBC

MAGA Senator Just Said The Quiet Part Out Loud With Epic Freudian Slip About Medicare

Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy was widely mocked following his inconvenient slip of the tongue during a CNBC interview as he mused about finding ways to "cut" Medicare before quickly correcting himself.

The exchange occurred after host Rebecca Quick pressed Louisiana Republican and former physician Bill Cassidy on how his party intended to fund the “trillion-dollar tax cuts” sought by President Donald Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Tim Sheehy
CNN

GOP Senator Gets Blunt Reality Check After Comparing Trump Tariff 'Pain' To Home Renovation

Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy was criticized after he tried to compare the "short-term pain" of President Donald Trump's tariffs to home renovation, a claim so ridiculous that CNN's Kaitlan Collins quickly pushed back on the analogy.

Trump has repeatedly referred to April 2 as “Liberation Day,” pledging to impose tariffs—taxes on imports—to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign goods. He has framed these tariffs as “reciprocal,” aiming to match the duties other nations place on American exports.

Keep ReadingShow less
Susan Crawford; Elon Musk
Scott Olson/Getty Images (left and right)

Liberal Wisconsin Judge Calls Out Elon Musk In Victory Speech—And It's Everything

Liberal judge Susan Crawford called out billionaire Elon Musk in her victory speech after winning a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, basking in successfully beating her Republican opponent Brad Schimel and ensuring that the nonpartisan court’s narrow 4-3 liberal majority remains intact despite Musk's efforts to sway the race.

Musk fueled the high-stakes race, having poured more than $20 million into supporting Schimel, according to state campaign records. That includes $3 million to the state Republican Party—$2 million of which was donated just last week. Due to state election laws, large contributions must be funneled through political parties before reaching candidates.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Describe The Worst 'Bonus' They've Ever Gotten At Work

Most of us have worked at one problematic workplace, with reasons ranging from toxic coworkers to terrible bosses to unlivable pay. Sometimes, it feels like a joke that the employees are even being paid at all!

But the biggest joke of all might be the end-of-year bonus, or lack thereof. They're at times so laughable, they take the cake for horrible work conditions, or are quite literally, a slice of cake.

Keep ReadingShow less