Final Project
December 5, 2015
Bill and Melinda Gates
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
500 Fifth Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98102
Dear Bill and Melinda Gates,
In a recent paper, I discussed the stereotype “Men Don’t Cry” in movies and the negative consequences that occur because of the false ideal. Hollywood has created an idea that men must be tough and emotionally strong to be considered real men. This idea has taken away men’s ability to cry openly and express their emotions properly. Negative consequences such as dealing with problems alone, domestic violence, and abuse of alcohol and drugs have become major complications in our society. Action needs to be taken to reverse this stereotype in order to prevent the negative consequences from occurring.
In order to bring attention to this problem, I propose a worldwide #realmencry on social media. About a year ago, the #icebucketchallenge took over Instagram. The purpose of the challenge was to raise awareness and money for treating those who suffer from ALS. I believe a similar tactic can bring attention to the “Men Don’t Cry” stereotype. We can create a picture that everyone can post to their personal Instagram. The image can be simple and have the #realmencry somewhere in the picture. It can be a simple image but make a bold statement. If everyone is seeing the hashtag online, they will feel motivated to get involved and spread awareness as well.
I’m proposing for every picture posted and every like it receives, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donates a dollar. The money raised would go towards rehab facilities, therapy sessions, and women’s shelters across the United States. The money would help fix what has already occurred due to the stereotype and the hashtag would bring awareness to help eliminate the stereotype from continuing in society. I believe with your help this social problem can be eliminated or reduced greatly.
Thank you for taking time to consider my request. I appreciate your consideration and all the wonderful work you do to help others in need.
Sincerely,
Sarah Focke
AUM Student
770-123-4567
Final Project Report
In my paper 4, I discussed the stereotype “Men Don’t Cry” in movies. I gave multiple examples of men not expressing emotion in order to maintain their manly persona. I used Interstellar, Closer, and other films to prove the stereotype. I further explained how the stereotype led to many negative consequences. For example, men resorted to other methods of dealing with their emotions such as violence and the use of alcohol and drugs. Men also felt as if they had to handle their problems in solitude and this led to making them closed off and seem heartless. This stereotype has been around for a while and has shaped the thinking of young boys for too many years.
Therefore, for my final exam project I decided to create a social media hashtag to bring awareness to the stereotype “Men Don’t Cry” in movies. I wrote a letter to the well know philanthropists, Bill and Melinda Gates, asking for their support in promoting the hashtag on social media. Their role in the project would include donating a dollar for every time someone posts an image with the #realmencry I also asked them to donate a dollar for every like a post received. The idea came from the #icebucketchallenge that took over social media last year. A lot of attention was put on ASL and money was raised to help research a cure. I felt a similar project could bring positive results for this persistent stereotype in Hollywood movies. I suggested we create an image that has the #realmencry as the focal point in the picture. We will have people who have a massive following on Instagram post the picture first. This will then lead others to tag along and post the picture themselves.
I addressed that the stereotype “Men Don’t Cry” in Hollywood leads to domestic violence, abuse of alcohol and drugs, and men feeling as if they have to handle problems alone. Therefore, I proposed the Gates could donate to therapy facilities that help men who struggle with dealing with their emotions properly. Plus, their money could go towards rehab centers since some men have resorted to alcohol and drugs to handle their problems. Lastly, I suggested their money could go towards women’s shelters for women who have had to leave their abusive male partners due to the man resorting to violence instead of properly dealing with their emotions.
Not only will this social media project help fix what has already occurred due to the stereotype, but will bring awareness to it and hopefully erase the stereotype in society. Money will be raised for the shelters and facilities. It’s a win-win situation because help is given to those already effected and helps reduce the use of the stereotype in future films. I hope that the hashtag will spread quickly and show up on multiple people’s accounts. With the help of those who have massive following on Instagram, a trend can be started. Then we can expect many others to follow their lead and post the image themselves on their personal accounts.
Therefore, for my final exam project I decided to create a social media hashtag to bring awareness to the stereotype “Men Don’t Cry” in movies. I wrote a letter to the well know philanthropists, Bill and Melinda Gates, asking for their support in promoting the hashtag on social media. Their role in the project would include donating a dollar for every time someone posts an image with the #realmencry I also asked them to donate a dollar for every like a post received. The idea came from the #icebucketchallenge that took over social media last year. A lot of attention was put on ASL and money was raised to help research a cure. I felt a similar project could bring positive results for this persistent stereotype in Hollywood movies. I suggested we create an image that has the #realmencry as the focal point in the picture. We will have people who have a massive following on Instagram post the picture first. This will then lead others to tag along and post the picture themselves.
I addressed that the stereotype “Men Don’t Cry” in Hollywood leads to domestic violence, abuse of alcohol and drugs, and men feeling as if they have to handle problems alone. Therefore, I proposed the Gates could donate to therapy facilities that help men who struggle with dealing with their emotions properly. Plus, their money could go towards rehab centers since some men have resorted to alcohol and drugs to handle their problems. Lastly, I suggested their money could go towards women’s shelters for women who have had to leave their abusive male partners due to the man resorting to violence instead of properly dealing with their emotions.
Not only will this social media project help fix what has already occurred due to the stereotype, but will bring awareness to it and hopefully erase the stereotype in society. Money will be raised for the shelters and facilities. It’s a win-win situation because help is given to those already effected and helps reduce the use of the stereotype in future films. I hope that the hashtag will spread quickly and show up on multiple people’s accounts. With the help of those who have massive following on Instagram, a trend can be started. Then we can expect many others to follow their lead and post the image themselves on their personal accounts.