Lifestyle and ideas of masculinity in society

[Shahrukh Atpade]

After the previous SALT activity, we met once again today. My purpose this time was to have a discussion about masculinity. From my previous experience, I realized that when SALT activities are combined with discussions on masculinity, people open up and express themselves more freely and sincerely.

So, I conducted the SALT session again. They once again shared their experiences — this time briefly, but with great honesty and emotion, which allowed them to express themselves deeply.

After that, I asked them a few questions related to masculinity,
“Is it easy to be a man?”
“What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a man?”
As soon as I asked, they began to speak. They said, A man is someone who goes against his own wishes to think about others. Today’s boys are unable to express themselves because they were never given that opportunity. The younger generation is well educated now, yet they still don’t speak openly. We, as elders, still try to encourage the children in our homes to talk. But we fear that they might take some wrong step if they don’t share what they feel. Life is very beautiful and precious it must be lived fully.

After listening to all this, I also shared my own thoughts with them.
At the end of the discussion, they said, We should engage young boys in activities they love so that they don’t remain under tension or sadness.