Cry

Crying: The most basic, visceral expression of the human experience. It’s our first function as we come into life and brings us our first discovery of our own voice and innate ability to make our needs known.

While society silences women in many ways, this most vital form of self-expression remains allowed to them. Men, on the other hand, are taught when they come of age that crying is unacceptable. Because the act of crying is perceived as weakness, we are uncomfortable with the concept of men in tears. We look away and encourage men to be stalwart and stifle their feelings. While we won’t tolerate public displays of sorrow, we capitulate to men’s unbridled reactivity; masculine self-expression through dominance, salacity and violence holds a familiar normalcy, even a heroic romanticism. But this imbalance of repressed emotions is hurting us, both literally and figuratively.

These unflinching intimate portraits offer an opportunity to witness what we ordinarily find unsettling and permission to lean into the discomfort of sacred imperfection. I commend the men who willingly posed for me for their immense courage to fully express who they are. Now is the time to open our eyes and hearts to the simple truth that the male emotionscape runs just as wide as the female, that the experience of pain, frustration, sentimentality, anger, self-doubt and joy are not gender specific. Letting men be seen in the genuine strength of their vulnerability bridges the gap of separateness and equalizes the bond of what makes us whole.

– Cat Gwynn