I'm not really surprised by the study these folks did on the perception of male vs female tears.
It still frustrates me that society as a whole still sees women as weak when they cry. I have known some exceptional women in my life, all of whom have cried at one point or another. It would never have occurred to me to think less of them for crying. I have also known people who razzed a man unmercifully for crying. I always found that cruel.
I cry. I prefer to call it leaking eyes because of this silly bias. Seems less emotional if you say leaking eyes. I find the ability to be touched so deeply that you cry - man or woman - only means you are aware of how sad or happy a moment truly is.
BTW, at my wedding, my ex cried. I, of course, didn't, but had a handkerchief up my sleeve to wipe his eyes with. It was a beautiful moment for me.
Anger, the sibling of crying, is also treated the same. How on earth is is okay for men to be angry and be seen as "manly" or "tough" but when in the same circumstance a woman is angry she is a "loose canon" or "irrational". Again, I don't get it. When will people simply see strong emotion and the ability to express it as a strength?!
I admit, I'm better at anger than crying. It's the emotion I have to keep a tight reign on for my own good. I'd rather not become angry, but some times it's wholly appropriate.
So, do cry babies and hot heads offend you? or do you see some sort of middle ground?
