Well, i was just talking to Ami (Strawberry-Gashes) And she was talking about how her Psychologist said to her how for every 1 man that SI's there'l be 25 females.
At first that sounds like a ridiculous claim seeing how mental health issues can hit anyone, anytime regardless of gender, but if you think about it, look at RYL for example, think to yourself. "How many male members do i know?" then compare that to females, you'l see we're pretty outnumbered.
Why?
Here's my opinion.
I think men have this "Macho" bullshit hardwired into them, so they find it hard to open up, i know i find it hard to talk to other males about how i feel, and it's not that i think it makes me "Less" of a man, as i know that's bullshit, but it doesn't stop me being nearly unable to give good advice to other male members, when i told my GP i cut and have depression i nearly died of embaressment, if it had of been a male GP i would'nt have told him, i'd have bailed.
I also think it's social acceptance, i am in no way saying having depression and self harming is easier for a woman, not at all, but i'd think men would have more chance to be mocked by friends if they "Came out" as a cutter. As society says men are "Hard as nails" and we shouldn't let stuff get to us.
They're my views anyways, it was just what Ami said that got me thinking, and i'm after other peoples interpritations, thanks.
On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
I think women are more prone to depression to, as opposed to men. Also, my pschatrist said something about women feeling more worthless and less deserving on men. Dunno though.
x
but surely you'd think not being able to express feelings, keeping them bottled up and stuff would increase the likelyhood of si? ..sorry if i'm talking rubbish..
I agree with what you're saying. I find it really hard to tell other guys things. I've opened up to my female friends and things but I'm not sure I've ever told another guy things like that. I think the incidence in men is probably higher than it is but the very fact that men don't talk about it means it isn't reported and so it doesn't like as many men do it. Statistics don't tell the whole story.
I think your right, guys are less willing to tell someone about it which is why the statistics are very unreliable.
But also i do think more women do SH because women are generally more emotional anyway. Maybe in being too stereotypical, I probably am. I just speak from experience, i have 4 brothers and by far I am the most emotional. But again, I don't know if thats right so if its not just ignore me.
Anyway I don't really know how to reply to this thread so sorry =]
<3
Men tend to act out when they are upset. They get violent and angry, whereas women have been told anger isnt acceptable for a girl, so they push it inwards. Thats another influencing factor. I think there is a gender disparity, however i dont think it is as large as we are led to believe. Its just males are less likely to tell people, or to see that there is anything wrong. Like men with eating disorders, they more often shrug it off as too much sport. It is fasinating i agree, but it is just so complex we wont be able to pinpoint the many and varied reasons why this is the case.
~He accepts that ambiguity and compromise are a part of life, but he doesn’t necessarily like it. It’s not his way to dwell in gray areas, not to try and resolve complex situations. And yet, if he’s really honest with himself, this time he doesn’t care. He surrenders to what he wants, not what he must. ~
i tend to agree with the general idea that's being expressed on this thread. growing up, a lot of my friends were female and it seemed that for a period of time all of us had ongoing issues with SI. i also had a number of male friends who SI. however, i stopped SI for a number of years and have in the past year or so started back up..since then i haven't really told any of my current friends about it. it feels more embarrassing, perhaps in part as i am male, and yes, there are certain stereotypes that were expected to live up to (male/female stereotypes aren’t fair for either gender, but they exist, and likely will continue to exist on some level for a long time, we need to change this)...but also it feels embarrassing as i am 25 years old. it seems like society has this image of the average SI being a teenage girl. being a 25 year old man and still doing this makes me feel week. i don't view a teenage female, or woman in general as weak. far from it. perhaps the data is correct though...but i can't help but wonder if the data being collected isn't flawed in some manner.
my whole life has been. running with the wind. and playing with the cowards. it’s so hard to see. i’m fractured within. a poet in a window. we’re bastards and thieves. we’re lovers and saints. we’re holding on to mourning. and in the shadows i will be. until the sunlight melts away. until we tire of murder...fill me up with love...say goodbye when you leave. remember to breath. remember to listen. it’s getting harder to be. the son you want of me. the son i’ll never be.
I think the data is flawed to an extent, because I agree that men have a hard time owning up to their emotions. I have a couple of guy friends who SI and have admitted it to me, but as far as I know, they haven't adnitted it to their guy friends because of the stereotypes we are all forced to live. Woman on the other hand, can admit it to other females without fear of being weak. I have a couple of female friends who have owned up to it to me. And myself being a female, it makes it a little easier to talk to others about my cutting/SI problems. My ex-bf told me that he couldn't talk to other males about it because he was afraid it would hurt his social status.
That's just what I have to say. And if anyone wants to talk to me about ANYTHING, I'll listen. I'm here for everyone and anyone. I'll listen.
"I let my guard down, and you caught me by surprise" Sonic Syndicate
add me if you want. just let me know you're from RYL.
it depends on the population your looking at...in prisons the rate of SI is much higher in males then females. another issue is that females are more like to seek psychiatric treatment(which is where the statistics come from). men are also more likely to turn their anger out towards others(fighting) and are more likely to use drugs. "agression" in men is tollerated if not encouraged as "manly". it's a different story for women because agression is considered "unladylike" so we're more like to turn our anger and frustrations inward. so...in the end...women and men had themselve in equal ammounts...its just that theres different ways to do it and unfortunately for them its somewhat socially acceptable...
I need you to know...I'm not through the night
Some days I'm still fighting to walk towards the Light.
do you like live in a burrow or something?
everybody i know in real life has self harmed, does self harm or has tried it.
like my friends out of ryl y'know.
maybe it's hastings.
I've honestly never met another Self harmer (That i'm aware of, obviously we hide it) But yea, i know i'l have came in contact with people before, but not aware.
On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
i gave up hiding it years ago, unless of course it's actually in a hidden place.
psht.
i reckon it sucks thinking "oh noes i can't wear that htey may see scars/cuts OMGZZZ".
not that i go delibratly showing it off either.
eh.
i reckon i have a sixth sense for these things.
considering i spotted a self harmer in spar the other day and luke didn't.
tit.
) Simply because they may be more secretive. 
I love you truly.
