In the society we grew up in, it is very easy to hide oneself. There are judgmental eyes all around. There is a social norm in our society that men don’t often show feelings because it is seen as ‘less masculine,’ and we wanted to shine a light on the people who are breaking that social norm and being happy with who they are and what they do.

     In classes, workplaces, school, and at home, being a man is based on someone’s actions and not about who they truly are. Some things are deemed ‘unmasculine’ just because society has deemed them as such. In this issue of The Whirlwind, we decided it was important to go against that norm and show the world and the school at West Albany High School that being ‘masculine’ is stereotypical, and it doesn’t matter as long as someone is happy about who they are.

     In the movie world most popular and highest paid actors tend to be men, with the exceptions of some notable women (16-17); however, in High school, those who participate in the performing arts are typically women, and the men who participate are now the outsiders. The health industry has historically been primarily male, and while the numbers are decreasing, most doctors and physicians are still predominantly male, and in the health care field, there are rising concerns about vaccination and disease in the community (14-15).

     At West Albany High School and around the world, men are more commonly seen as coaches because of the stereotype that men are the only ones who are truly interested in sports. Whether male or female, every coach is able to have a connection with their athletes (22-23).

     Being a man means different things to different people. It is known that going to the gym is good for your health, but to some male students at west it is more than just getting more fit, it is about being more comfortable with themselves (27), while some male students are in ‘women-dominated’ fields like theater, child development, and cheer and still chose to go through with their activities because it means the world to them (28). Every human expresses their emotions differently, but in today’s society, it is more common for men not express their emotions or how they feel about their friends because it is shown as ‘weak’(30-31)

     No matter who you are, male or female, gay or heterosexual, sports fanatic or theater kid, you should be able to feel comfortable in who you are and not feel the need to change for anyone around you.