Not allowed to be angry

Have you ever felt like you’re not allowed to be angry? I have. I’ve noticed that I suppress my anger because I can’t express it without being ridiculed, without feeling guilty, without feeling like I’m in the wrong. Maybe it’s just my personal experience, but I’ve noticed that the men around me are allowed to get angry, and the only thing people say is, “he’s angry, let him cool off.” They’re validated, and it even seems like they have a certain right to be rude, and they’ll be forgiven for it because they’re angry.

But when it comes to me, I’m seen as overreacting, hysterical, irrational, and I’m even made to feel guilty about my attitude. My feelings are minimized. It’s interesting that even though I’m ridiculed for being too sensitive, I am allowed to cry and be sad—but I’m not allowed to be cold or change my tone of voice when I’m upset, much less raise my voice.

Am I the only one who has felt this way?