{"id":15612,"date":"2025-12-17T17:37:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T17:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/men-dont-cry\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T13:38:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T13:38:47","slug":"men-dont-cry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/men-dont-cry\/","title":{"rendered":"Men Don\u2019t Cry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Silence Louder Than Shells: Masculinity Confronting Trauma After the 2024 Bombing of Beirut\u2019s Southern Suburbs and South Lebanon <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In a cramped room rented by a displaced family from Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs, Mohammad (a pseudonym), a man in his late forties, sits clutching his prayer beads with trembling hands.After a long silence, he says: \u201cI didn\u2019t cry in front of anyone. I stood in front of my destroyed home like a rock. But when my children fell asleep\u2026 I felt my legs could no longer carry me.\u201d He spoke as if the words were being pulled out of him, fleeing the idea of being seen as broken in front of his wife and children\u2014despite admitting that he has slept no more than two hours a night since the bombing. <\/p>\n\n

Hassan (a pseudonym), a man in his early thirties displaced from southern Lebanon, sits across from us, nervously interlocking his fingers. In a low voice, he says: \u201cI still hear the explosions in my head\u2026 even when there\u2019s nothing outside. I wake up startled, thinking there\u2019s another strike-but there isn\u2019t. I don\u2019t want to see a therapist. I\u2019m afraid people will say I can\u2019t handle it.\u201dHe spoke more about his fear of what people might say than about the bombing itself-as if the deepest wound wasn\u2019t the war, but the image he feels compelled to preserve as a man. <\/p>\n\n

These testimonies are not exceptions. They reflect a recurring pattern in the stories of many men during the recent weeks of bombardment in Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs and South Lebanon\u2014men collapsing inwardly while being expected to stand firm on the outside. <\/p>\n\n

Beyond the Rubble\u2026 Trauma That Doesn\u2019t Appear in Photos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

During the autumn of 2024, Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs and South Lebanon endured relentless airstrikes, mass displacement, and hospitals operating far beyond capacity.Reuters quoted a United Nations coordinator describing the humanitarian and psychological situation as \u201ccatastrophic,\u201d noting that residents were \u201cliving under levels of fear unseen for years.\u201d But numbers never tell the full story. Behind images of rubble and smoke lie silent wounds the camera cannot capture-fear lodged deep in men\u2019s chests, unspoken and unseen. <\/p>\n\n

Invisible Wounds: When Emotions Are Suppressed in the Name of \u201cManhood\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In many Arab societies, boys are raised to believe that crying is weakness and that grief is \u201cunbefitting of men.\u201dIn times of war, this belief shifts from a social expectation into a suffocating constraint. A 2025 Human Rights Watch report indicates that thousands of civilians-men and women alike-have suffered psychological trauma due to attacks on schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure.Yet men, in particular, tend to suppress their pain because of the social roles imposed upon them. <\/p>\n\n

 Thousands of civilians-men and women-have experienced psychological trauma.  <\/em> But men, specifically, are more likely to repress their pain due to rigid social expectations.<\/em><\/pre>\n\n
Field reports from international agencies have documented scenes of men walking through rubble, gripping their children\u2019s hands with excessive force-as if trying to reassure themselves before reassuring their children. They turn their faces away to hide their trembling, swallowing tears so they are not interpreted as weakness. But outward resilience does not mean the absence of collapse-it means mastering how to conceal it.<\/p>\n\n
Silent Anger: When Trauma Finds Another Language<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
When men are forbidden from crying, emotions search for another outlet.This may surface as constant tension, sudden bursts of anger, or complete withdrawal from life.    In this context, says Dr. Shahrazad Nabouh, a cognitive behavioral therapist:  <\/p>\n\n
\u201cIn Arab societies, men are raised to view expressions of sadness or fear as weakness. With recent violent events, this belief becomes a multiplier of harm.A man who is not allowed to cry often converts pain into anger, anxiety, or withdrawal.\u201dShe adds: \u201cSuppression does not protect men-it weakens their ability to cope. Emotional release, including crying, reduces the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Strength lies not in silence, but in confronting pain.\u201dPsychologists also emphasize: grief that is not mourned turns into anger whose impact lingers<\/strong>.        <\/p>\n\n
The Impact of Trauma on Family and Community<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Psychological repression does not remain confined to the individual-it spreads like a heavy shadow throughout the household.Tension, irritability, withdrawal, and sleep disturbances often transfer from fathers to spouses and children.  United Nations reports confirm that the deterioration of essential services has heightened the overall sense of insecurity, raising anxiety levels within families.As long as men are expected to be \u201cthe strongest pillar,\u201d many live a bitter conflict between what they feel and what is demanded of them.   <\/p>\n\n
Men are expected to be \u201cthe strongest pillar,\u201d<\/em>yet many endure a painful struggle between emotion and expectation.<\/em><\/pre>\n\n
Rebuilding does not begin with cement.Dr. Nabouh explains: \u201cSeeking psychological support is not a sign of weakness-it is an essential step toward healing, just as seeing a doctor is necessary for any physical injury.\u201d  This renewed understanding of masculinity-based on acknowledgment rather than repression-is the first step toward breaking the vicious cycle of trauma.  Behind shattered facades, men struggle to survive wounds that cannot be seen.If external destruction is visible, internal devastation is no less severe.   As long as society equates masculinity with silence, pain will continue to multiply in the shadows.It is time to challenge the stereotype: crying is not weakness-it is the beginning of healing.<\/strong> <\/strong> And the men who allow their tears to fall are the first to begin rebuilding what has collapsed-within themselves, before the outside world. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Silence Louder Than Shells: Masculinity Confronting Trauma After the 2024 Bombing of Beirut\u2019s Southern Suburbs and South Lebanon In a cramped room rented by a displaced family from Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs, Mohammad (a pseudonym), a man in his late forties, sits clutching his prayer beads with trembling hands.After a long silence, he says: \u201cI didn\u2019t cry in front of anyone. I stood in front of my destroyed home like a rock. But when my children fell asleep\u2026 I felt my legs could no longer carry me.\u201d He spoke as if the words were being pulled out of him, fleeing the idea of being seen as broken in front of his wife and children\u2014despite admitting that he has slept no more than two hours a night since the bombing. Hassan (a pseudonym), a man in his early thirties displaced from southern Lebanon, sits across from us, nervously interlocking his fingers. In a low voice, he says: \u201cI still hear the explosions in my head\u2026 even when there\u2019s nothing outside. I wake up startled, thinking there\u2019s another strike-but there isn\u2019t. I don\u2019t want to see a therapist. I\u2019m afraid people will say I can\u2019t handle it.\u201dHe spoke more about his fear of what people might say than about the bombing itself-as if the deepest wound wasn\u2019t the war, but the image he feels compelled to preserve as a man. These testimonies are not exceptions. They reflect a recurring pattern in the stories of many men during the recent weeks of bombardment in Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs and South Lebanon\u2014men collapsing inwardly while being expected to stand firm on the outside. Beyond the Rubble\u2026 Trauma That Doesn\u2019t Appear in Photos During the autumn of 2024, Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs and South Lebanon endured relentless airstrikes, mass displacement, and hospitals operating far beyond capacity.Reuters quoted a United Nations coordinator describing the humanitarian and psychological situation as \u201ccatastrophic,\u201d noting that residents were \u201cliving under levels of fear unseen for years.\u201d But numbers never tell the full story. Behind images of rubble and smoke lie silent wounds the camera cannot capture-fear lodged deep in men\u2019s chests, unspoken and unseen. Invisible Wounds: When Emotions Are Suppressed in the Name of \u201cManhood\u201d In many Arab societies, boys are raised to believe that crying is weakness and that grief is \u201cunbefitting of men.\u201dIn times of war, this belief shifts from a social expectation into a suffocating constraint. A 2025 Human Rights Watch report indicates that thousands of civilians-men and women alike-have suffered psychological trauma due to attacks on schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure.Yet men, in particular, tend to suppress their pain because of the social roles imposed upon them. Thousands of civilians-men and women-have experienced psychological trauma. But men, specifically, are more likely to repress their pain due to rigid social expectations. Field reports from international agencies have documented scenes of men walking through rubble, gripping their children\u2019s hands with excessive force-as if trying to reassure themselves before reassuring their children. They turn their faces away to hide their trembling, swallowing tears so they are not interpreted as weakness. But outward resilience does not mean the absence of collapse-it means mastering how to conceal it. Silent Anger: When Trauma Finds Another Language When men are forbidden from crying, emotions search for another outlet.This may surface as constant tension, sudden bursts of anger, or complete withdrawal from life. In this context, says Dr. Shahrazad Nabouh, a cognitive behavioral therapist: \u201cIn Arab societies, men are raised to view expressions of sadness or fear as weakness. With recent violent events, this belief becomes a multiplier of harm.A man who is not allowed to cry often converts pain into anger, anxiety, or withdrawal.\u201dShe adds: \u201cSuppression does not protect men-it weakens their ability to cope. Emotional release, including crying, reduces the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Strength lies not in silence, but in confronting pain.\u201dPsychologists also emphasize: grief that is not mourned turns into anger whose impact lingers. The Impact of Trauma on Family and Community Psychological repression does not remain confined to the individual-it spreads like a heavy shadow throughout the household.Tension, irritability, withdrawal, and sleep disturbances often transfer from fathers to spouses and children. United Nations reports confirm that the deterioration of essential services has heightened the overall sense of insecurity, raising anxiety levels within families.As long as men are expected to be \u201cthe strongest pillar,\u201d many live a bitter conflict between what they feel and what is demanded of them. Men are expected to be \u201cthe strongest pillar,\u201dyet many endure a painful struggle between emotion and expectation. Rebuilding does not begin with cement.Dr. Nabouh explains: \u201cSeeking psychological support is not a sign of weakness-it is an essential step toward healing, just as seeing a doctor is necessary for any physical injury.\u201d This renewed understanding of masculinity-based on acknowledgment rather than repression-is the first step toward breaking the vicious cycle of trauma. Behind shattered facades, men struggle to survive wounds that cannot be seen.If external destruction is visible, internal devastation is no less severe. As long as society equates masculinity with silence, pain will continue to multiply in the shadows.It is time to challenge the stereotype: crying is not weakness-it is the beginning of healing. And the men who allow their tears to fall are the first to begin rebuilding what has collapsed-within themselves, before the outside world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":15611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[522,339,447],"tags":[347,524,343,602,363,357],"class_list":["post-15612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-people-of-the-south-speak","category-opinion","category-we-and-society","tag-lebanon-en","tag-men","tag-mental_health","tag-social-stigma","tag-south","tag-war-en"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208.jpg",2048,900,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208.jpg",2048,900,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208.jpg",2048,900,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208-300x132.jpg",300,132,true],"large":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208-1024x450.jpg",1024,450,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208-1536x675.jpg",1536,675,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/208.jpg",2048,900,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"\u0625\u0633\u0631\u0627\u0621 \u0647\u0627\u062f\u064a","author_link":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/author\/esraa-hady\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"The People of the South Speak<\/a> Opinion<\/a> We and Society<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Silence Louder Than Shells: Masculinity Confronting Trauma After the 2024 Bombing of Beirut\u2019s Southern Suburbs and South Lebanon In a cramped room rented by a displaced family from Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs, Mohammad (a pseudonym), a man in his late forties, sits clutching his prayer beads with trembling hands.After a long silence, he says: \u201cI didn\u2019t…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15612"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15613,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15612\/revisions\/15613"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}