Not all men are bad. Some are victims.

Not all men are bad. Some are victims.

January 11, 2025 0

HearMeToo: When Men Cry for Help, Are We Listening?

In the last two weeks, two men in India have ended their lives. Both left behind suicide notes and videos, sharing the torment they faced at the hands of their wives and in-laws. These are not isolated stories. They’re screams into the void. And yet, we rarely listen.

When the Law Favors One Side

The laws created to protect women are essential. But what happens when they’re misused? Some women have turned these safeguards into weapons—harassing, manipulating, and pushing their partners to the brink. These aren’t stories of empowerment; they’re tales of destruction.
Equality isn’t about tipping the scales. It’s about fairness. And sometimes, fairness is lost when society assumes one gender is always the victim.

Metro Men: A Different Kind of Struggle

Metro cities are fast-paced, unforgiving, and isolating. The pressure to succeed, maintain relationships, and “man up” is crushing. And when personal lives spiral into toxic zones, men often find themselves with no escape. Legal battles drain them. Social stigma silences them. And emotional pain breaks them.
In these cities, men don’t just need rights—they need spaces. Safe spaces to speak, heal, and be heard.

Not All Men Are Bad

Yes, some men are toxic. But not all. Many are simply struggling. Struggling to balance work, family, societal expectations, and their own mental health. These are the stories we don’t tell because men are taught to suffer in silence.
But silence is deadly.

The Mental Health Crisis We Ignore

Men’s mental health is the elephant in the room. Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts—these aren’t just “weaknesses.” They’re real, dangerous battles. And yet, men are told to “man up” and move on.
It’s time to change that. Men need support systems, therapy, and acknowledgment. They need to know it’s okay to not be okay.

#HearMeToo: A Movement for Everyone

Equality means listening to every voice. It means recognizing that not all men are perpetrators. Some are victims. And their pain is just as valid.
Let’s build a society that protects without prejudice. That supports without judgment. And that values every human being—man or woman—for who they are.
Because sometimes, the strongest cry for help is the quietest. Will we hear it?

Many years back, I started an initiative for women’s safety in Delhi—perhaps it’s time to launch safety from women too.