If two women can hold hands and just be friends, then why can't men?

Holding hands is an expression of affection, gender doesn't matter. Photo: Shutterstock/IndiaPicture

Have you ever looked at two guys holding hands on the streets and said to yourself "kya ladki ke tarah haath pakad ke chal rahe hai. Pakka gay honge!" But have you ever done the same upon seeing two girls walking hand in one. You probably said no. After all, girls hold hands all the time, right?

We mean, after all friendship between two women is always considered that of sisters--close and intimate. They hug, they cry together, and even go to the washroom together. But, what happens when men share the same kind of friendship? Did you say it doesn't happen because it doesn't seem normal?

If you have ever wondered why it is so, let us tell you the reason. You see because holding hands is always viewed as something only couples or women do, it's immediately perceived as romantic or feminine. That's where the problem arises.

You see when something is seen as feminine, it automatically becomes an insult. You may be familiar with phrases like "run like a girl" or "fight like a girl", in fact Whisper also ran a campaign on it. Do you see how deep rooted misogyny actually is?

The other thing that happens is that the inner homophobic in you comes out, all guns blazing. And as you already were a misogynist, your brain equates everything together. If you are confused, let us tell how your brain processes it.

Your brain on seeing two men holding hands and walking on the streets nonchalantly, "These two men are holding hands. But, that's so feminine. Eeeewww, they are not even women. Women hold hands like that. They definitely must be gay. Eeeewwww."

However, it's okay. That's how our society has been conditioning us. We have been told since our childhood that women express emotion, men don't. Women show love, men don't. Men are supposed to be masculine, strong, and stoic, who are not even allowed to shed tears.

That's what you need to change. We are not saying that immediately go and cling on to your guy friends like a koala bear let loose in a forest full of eucalyptus trees. All we are saying is that you change your mindset regarding masculinity and male friendships. Then slowly start holding hands. Because holding hands is just a way to express affection, gender or sexuality doesn't play a part in this.