Men are human, they are not super heroes like they are portrayed to be in society, Abanomzana aBaqotho said.
Abanomzana a Baqotho, a programme under Lungelo Women’s Organisation, addresses gender-based violence and abuse.
A group of men, young and old, gathered for a workshop aimed at educating men about abuse, violence, dealing with their emotions and essentially becoming better men in the community.
Social auxilary worker Reuben Mosibi said men do not find it easy to open up and talk about their feelings.
“Society expects men to be the strong ones, they are expected not to show their feelings because that is seen is weakness.
“Cultures and upbringing teach men at an early age that being a man is not showing pain or emotion like woman do.
This leads to men suppressing their feelings and acting tough even when they are torn apart on the inside”.
The bottling up of feelings tend into manifest as anger, rage, insecurity and so forth, said Mosibi.
He said this is often leads to abusive and unacceptable behaviour.
Programme facilitator, Emile Modisaesi, said the day’s intention was to let men know that is ok for them to cry and have moments of weakness.
“Men do not like to talk about how they feel.
“We are saying it is ok for men to talk about how they really feel.”
For more information on Lungelo or Abanomzana a Baqotho, contact, them on (011) 982 1521.
