There is a concept call “cops in the head”, which are social reinforcements that YOU put on yourself, based on EXPECTED reactions of those around you.

Due to the currently gender-political climate, I imagine that a lot of men actually punish themselves for thinking stuff like “maybe I am vilified unfairly in some ways”, because they see the GENUINE social issues that affect women, and think that by focusing on men’s issues they are inherently being sexist.

I believe this actually prevents a large amount of men not from expressing their true beliefs, but in fact prevents them from EXPLORING their own beliefs in the first place, as the ‘correct’ ideology is so clearly pushed by society.

A second mental barrier in exploring how males may be vilified is what I would call an unhelpful behaviour, in which men have a tendency to “buckle down and get on with it”. You see it as they are less likely to ask for help in all areas of life (medical, school, socially) as it’s seen as weak. I myself used to have the attitude of “men do have unseen issues in society, but I myself will just keep my head down and push past it, as I as an individual can push past these problems”. I believe this mentality may affect more people than we think, because it usually is a very progressive and helpful mentality.

finally, looping back to the start, we all expect people (because they do do this) to look down or disregard us and our ideas when we do bring up men’s rights, and men’s issues, and that reinforces this idea of staying silent, to avoid being seen as a bad person. but let me speak directly to you - even if your views are WRONG, you are never in the wrong for trying to initiate a dialogue, you’re never in the wrong for trying to educate yourself and others more, you’re NOT a BAD PERSON because of what you think.

If those of us who know what they believe stay silent for fears of repercussion, then others will never know that THEY ARE NOT OUTLIERS. They are NOT BAD people for thinking these thoughts. You must be vocal about your views so that others know they are not alone.

To quote one of my least favourite Star wars’

“That’s how they win, by making you feel like you’re alone”