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What Americans can learn from Danish masculinity
By Marie Helweg-Larsen, Dickinson College
When a leader cries in public, is it a sign of weakness?
On Jan. 14, 2023, Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik was crowned King Frederik X after his mother, Queen Margrethe II, announced she would be abdicating the throne during her annual New Year’s Eve speech.
After the queen signed a declaration of abdication in a private meeting, the king stepped out on the balcony of the Danish parliament – Christiansborg Palace. In front of a throng of 300,000 people, the king waved, teared up and waved again, before wiping away the tears with his white-gloved hand. He later shed more tears as his wife and children joined him on the balcony.
The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian eagerly noted the emotional moment. One Danish newspaper headline simply read, “The King’s Tears,” while a Danish celebrity magazine featured a series of images of the king wiping his eyes.
In much of the world, tears and masculinity don’t mix. Crying can signal vulnerability and weakness, particularly for men in charge. Showing your emotions is viewed as too effeminate.
But in Denmark, the king’s tears didn’t minimize his popularity. In fact, they burnished it: Showing a feminine side is a core part of Danish masculinity.
As a native Dane and a psychologist, I’ve studied Denmark’s unique conception of manhood, which contrasts with masculine ideals in the U.S.
What makes a man?
Different cultures have different expectations for how men should act, look and express themselves.
American men are often expected to be tough, strong and stoic. It’s important that they don’t appear too effeminate.
Research shows that in Denmark it can be acceptable – even desirable – for men to show a feminine side.
In a study on masculinity and manhood in the U.S. and Denmark, my colleagues Sarah DiMuccio and Megan Yost and I found that among young heterosexual men, Danish men were more likely than American men to describe ideal men as being caring, loving, considerate and empathetic, which in the U.S. are usually seen as feminine characteristics.
Read Full Story https://theconversation.com/what-americans-can-learn-from-danish-masculinity-221548