If a guy doesn’t like sports or chugging beer, he is automatically branded a ‘wuss’ or ‘sissy’. And god forbid he show any emotion. This ‘real men don’t cry’ mentality is unfortunately the norm in our society.

But a recent photo project — a collaborative effort between Lithuanian photographer/political science student Neringa Rekašiūtė and TV personality Beata Tiškevič-Hasanova — entitled He’s Won A Lottery is exploring the public opinion of masculinity, and challenging our gender perceptions in the process.

The project was inspired by the new mandatory military conscription suddenly reinstated by the Lithuanian government a few months ago. And just like that 37,000 Lithuanian men aged 19-26 woke up and found their names on the compulsory military service list.

#1. Edvinas, 17: “Can you imprison a man’s choice and call it free living?”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

For nine months, these men will spend their days away from their friends and families, completing the military training. They will be forced to leave their jobs as well as their lives.

#2. Jaunius, 18: “A gun in your hands doesn’t define your manliness.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

Finding the random lottery unfair, some of the ‘chosen’ men tried to voice their thoughts. But the backlash they encountered was downright disturbing.

#3. Denisas, 23: “In today’s free society there is no space for coercion. Compulsory things should be the ones you choose with your free will.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

“Some men took to social media to express their opinions, but they were met with an unbelievable amount of negativity: people – both men and women – were calling them cowards, useless human beings, unmanly, [and] a disgrace,” Rekašiūtė and Tiškevič-Hasanova said.

#4. Vytenis, 18: “I could go to the army. Sometimes I lack courage and stamina to do things. Army is good if you can handle it. I was inspired by my friend, a girl, who became a voluntary soldier.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

In the hopes of showing the world the collective experience of those who have been affected by the conscription, Rekašiūtė and Tiškevič-Hasanova invited 14 men to express their ideas on masculinity.

#5. Dominykas, 26: “It’s my choice what kind of man I want to be.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

“We wanted to show how dangerous gender expectations are: a man is expected to be rational, emotionless and aggressive. It is very important that we, as a society, allow men to express their emotions and not force a stereotypical archaic role onto them,” said Rekašiūtė.

#6. Vytautas, 27: “Army won’t make a man out of you – if you are a dumbass, you will stay a dumbass.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#7. Rokas, 17: “It is manly to work for your goals and ideas, and defend your values. I guess, everyone can go to the war, but army is not for everyone.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#8. Martynas, 22: “It’s manly to be able to choose for yourself.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#9. Justas, 18: “The real strength is the ability to make your own mind. Let us be strong.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#10. Mindaugas, 25: “When I was still at school, conscript army was removed. I was very happy then, but when I look back, I realize it was a better time to go to the army than it would be now when I have my own agency and when I have created jobs for other people – I need to look after all of it.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#11. Justas, 27: “Army is a waste of time. How many more soldiers do we need?”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#12. Danas, 28: “In my opinion, the archaic times when a man was supposed to kill a buffalo and drag it home to his family are long over. I think that army is not a bad thing in general, but a compulsory one is definitely not a good thing either. Especially when the government announced it so suddenly without any public debate or preparation. A system should be introduced, one should know at school that there is a possibility to serve in the army, one should grow up with this idea.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#13. Jegor, 25: “Only when fighting [do] you lose.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

#14. Lukas, 25: “If I was called to the army, I would try to find a way to avoid it. I have a wife, we are so good together and family for me is first. We have created so much, I wouldn’t want to leave it.”



Neringa Rekašiūtė

For more info on the photo series, you can visit neringark.com.