Full disclosure: I was confused about the reasons why men don’t cry as often as we do, because I grew up with two older brothers who always cried more than I did. But that may have more to do with me being a heartless ice queen than with actual stereotypes. In any case, if you ever wondered why men don’t cry as much as we do–even while watching Marley and Me or The Notebook–it turns out there’s actually science behind it.
Researchers say that we cry most in times of despair, because it’s the body’s way of signifying that we need help. This part of our body is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system, which is triggered by emotion.
The reason why men don’t cry as often doesn’t mean they don’t get emotional, though–it turns out that testosterone can actually slow this system down and reduce one’s likelihood or even ability to cry. Scientists and doctors support that claim with data that shows women who have sex changes to become men and also go through hormonal therapy to have more testosterone wind up crying a lot less than they did before taking the plunge into manhood. Similarly, if men have surgery and hormone therapy to become women, they often end up crying a lot more.
Of course, there are other reasons why men don’t cry that have nothing to do with hormones. Research says that one reason why men don’t cry as often as we do is because they don’t grow up seeing other men cry that often. Conversely, if you (or a guy) grow up in a home where people are open to crying often, you’re more likely to get weepy yourself.
Other reasons we cry, aside from awful splits, pain, the sinking feeling that Harry Styles may never marry you after all or really bad news? Our body makes us. Tears are the body’s natural way of lubricating and cleaning our eyes, so if you find yourself crying while cutting onions, seeing bright lights or in wind, it actually means your eyes are healthy. It’s a reflex! (This comes as a relief to me, because whenever it’s too breezy, people think I just got dumped.)
Another reason why men don’t cry–and why some of us try not to, either? Well, because we look kind of hideous afterward. (Especially me. Picture a pink frog, and that’s what my face looks like when I’m crying. So hot, right?) Turns out, there’s science behind that too: As for the red eyes, that’s caused by an increased blood supply to the eye when you’re crying. And for when you get stuffy and runny? Your tears drain into your nose when you cry, which stimulates mucus production, so on top of being sad, you get to also be really attractive and have to blow your nose.
Then there’s always the theory that the reason why men don’t cry is because they’re jerks. But we think they only applies to a few of them!
Do you think there are other reasons why men don’t cry as much as we do? Do you cry more than the men you know? Tell us in the comments!