There are hundreds of ways to apply the term norms, established guidelines and standards for behavior, to your future profession. As one example, let’s consider gender norms and how they relate to health. As boys age, they learn that crying in public is not acceptable. Crying is not considered “manly” or a masculine trait for males in general. Boys who cry in public might even be socially sanctioned in an attempt to get them back in line with the prevailing norms. Phrases such as “crying is for babies,” and “you are crying like a girl” is a form of public shaming. This form of socialization reinforces the preference for boys to repress their emotions and take on the role of being “tough” and “rugged.” This socialization process is played out through “folkways” such as the type and color of clothes one wears as well as hobbies. Boys are encouraged to play sports and girls are enrolled in dance and play with dolls growing up. These gender norms create a stoic male role for boys to emulate and this causes males to be reluctant to admit problems and ask for help. The result is men are more likely to suffer in silence rather than go to the doctor to alleviate pain or other symptoms. Men are more likely to brag about not seeing a doctor as this can be viewed as a badge of courage and heighten their masculinity. One Scottish lad reported, “I’m hard, I’m daft, I’ll cut my arm off and just grow another one back.” This perfectly illustrates how societal gender norms can impact the health of men who want to be viewed as “tough” and “manly” among their peers.