Well, men do get hurt when there's a physical injury or trauma. "Hurt" is a feeling of sadness when someone has been unkind or unfair to you. It can happen to men, but it's usually temporary. Memories of these don't stay but associated ones like anger, irritation etc. remain.
So why are we talking about men not getting hurt! Because, women do get hurt and the memory stays for a very long time. They have the capacity to forgive, but it is rare for them to completely forget. Women are often more affected by disrespectful actions and gestures than men realize, even though I don't consider myself an expert on the matter. )
I guess upbringing has something to do it. Boys are told to be tough , play intense physical sports etc. and are expected to bear physical pain. Boys' emotional development might be slower than girls because they often talk about activities and goals instead of their feelings. The same I guess is true about adult males. In a way this attitude also creates a unique stereotype of males which makes it very difficult for them to break the mould and sensitive guys tend to be treated as outcasts.
I have been personally guilty of causing hurt on multiple occasions both in words and deeds and quite often have been callous to not even recognise it. I've been trying to be more sensitive for the past decade, but I often end up being defensive and showing off instead. It's a learning process and I remind myself that I need to get better every day.
Words have power, and we don't realise, and we can always choose what to say and how to say it. Our body language also betrays our words. More often than not, when a guy apologises, he may not mean it. Our films also magnify the words and gestures, further reinforcing stereotypes.
The answer lies within us. A modicum of self-control and situational awareness goes a long way. If what you say or do can hurt someone, it's better to stay quiet and let the moment pass. Have a good weekend
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