Family Service Nova Scotia - October 2025
Adrienne Bekkers, Community Programs Coordinator & System Engagement Lead
The session encouraged participants to consider how early influences around toughness, control, and emotional restraint may continue to shape how men relate to their emotions. From a young age, boys often encounter messages suggesting that vulnerability is undesirable. These ideas can be reinforced through media, sports, and broader social norms, which tend to emphasize dominance and discourage emotional openness. Over time, such patterns might contribute to feelings of disconnection or isolation.