Protecting a Man's Ego

You have heard that a man's ego is highly fragile, and guess whose obligation it is to protect it from spiraling out of control ? Well, women in our society are conditioned and expected to protect a man's ego at all costs, in the process they are expected to shrink themselves and act only in the interest of men. On the internet, you will find several articles, movies, and articles that teach women and girls how to protect a man's ego. It appears to be something that, we as a society have accepted as normal and are now passing it down to our young ones.

Every day, someone comes up with new ways of how women can safeguard a man's ego. You have heard of things like "if you're out with a man and you're the one with the money, secretly pass it to him instead, he should be the one paying, even if it's your money" or "don't reject a man's marriage proposal in public, you will embarrass him, instead accept his proposal and reject him in private". There are numerous examples and circumstances from which we can draw from, in which women and girls are taught to always be mindful of a man's ego.

Of course, this way of thinking has a lot of ramifications for everyone concerned. What people don’t talk about is how dangerous it gets for women when men believe it is a woman’s duty to protect them from their own emotions and feelings. Women die or get harmed at the hands of who couldn't stand being rejected or shamed in public, or even in private.

Let us teach our boys how to manage their emotions and feelings in a way that doesn’t require someone to shrink themselves first. Tell them that no one is responsible for protecting them from their own negative emotions. Let us assist them in breaking free from the illusion that a woman's success, rejection, or independence has anything to do with their masculinity and identity as boys or men. They must understand that their identity and worth as human beings does not begin and end at being needed or recognized by a woman.

And as for the young girls , let's instill in them a sense of confidence and understanding that everyone is accountable for their own thoughts, feelings, and actions. Let them know that it is perfectly acceptable to say no to a man, regardless of how or where they say it.