Perception or Reality?

Modern young American males, particularly those below age 18, seem a great deal more willing/prone to cry at moderate pain or moderate humiliation.  Have they been feminized by a maybe over-feminized culture?  Or are they simply more free with their emotions, and less likely to internalize needless stress?  Or is it something else?  Or, rather, is the perception (a common anecdotal one) not the reality? 

I will be interested to see what data academia can provide.