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cover of episode Why Men And Boys Are Struggling

Why Men And Boys Are Struggling

2024/11/20
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On the Media

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Micah Loewinger
R
Richard Reeves
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Micah Loewinger: 本期节目探讨了男性和男孩面临的困境,以及主流政治话语对这一问题的忽视和误用。右翼政治家利用男性的困境来争取选票,而左翼则往往对此问题保持沉默或采取责备的态度。 Richard Reeves: 男性和男孩的困境是一个复杂的社会问题,它涉及教育、就业、心理健康等多个方面。在教育方面,女性已经超越男性,这与大脑发育速度和教育体系设计有关。在就业市场上,低技能男性面临着失业和收入下降的风险。在心理健康方面,男性自杀率高,这与缺乏目标感和社会价值感有关。 Reeves 认为,解决男性困境需要从多个层面入手,包括改善教育体系,创造更多就业机会,以及关注男性心理健康。他还批评了“男性毒性”一词的泛滥使用,认为它容易被右翼利用,并阻碍了对男性困境的有效讨论。 Reeves 还指出,左翼政党错失了利用政府资源帮助男性的机会,这可能是出于对“庆祝男性”可能带来的负面影响的担忧。他建议鼓励男性进入传统上由女性主导的行业,以改善劳动力市场问题。 Richard Reeves: 男性和男孩的困境是一个复杂的社会问题,它涉及教育、就业、心理健康等多个方面。在教育方面,女性已经超越男性,这与大脑发育速度和教育体系设计有关。在就业市场上,低技能男性面临着失业和收入下降的风险。在心理健康方面,男性自杀率高,这与缺乏目标感和社会价值感有关。 Reeves 认为,解决男性困境需要从多个层面入手,包括改善教育体系,创造更多就业机会,以及关注男性心理健康。他还批评了“男性毒性”一词的泛滥使用,认为它容易被右翼利用,并阻碍了对男性困境的有效讨论。 Reeves 还指出,左翼政党错失了利用政府资源帮助男性的机会,这可能是出于对“庆祝男性”可能带来的负面影响的担忧。他建议鼓励男性进入传统上由女性主导的行业,以改善劳动力市场问题。 Donald Trump: 利用与男性网红(如Joe Rogan, Adin Ross, Logan Paul)的互动来争取年轻男性的选票。 Josh Hawley: 将男性困境描述为左翼对美国的攻击,以此来争取男性的支持。 Natalie Wynn (ContraPoints): 批评了“男性毒性”的概念,认为它未能提供有效的解决方案,反而加剧了男性的困境。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why is the mainstream political discourse around men considered fundamentally broken?

The discourse is broken because it fails to address the systemic issues affecting men, particularly those in lower socioeconomic classes and minority groups, while simultaneously acknowledging the ongoing gender inequalities at the top of society.

What are some markers of educational struggles among men and boys?

Women are now 15 percentage points more likely to get a four-year college degree than men, and girls account for two-thirds of the top 10% of students ranked by GPA, while boys dominate the bottom. Girls are also ahead in English education in average and poorer school districts.

Why do men's employment rates show a significant decline?

Men's employment rates have fallen by seven percentage points in the last 50 years, with the largest drop among young men aged 25 to 34. This decline is due to the disappearance of jobs that once provided decent livelihoods for those with only high school education, such as factory work.

How does the right-wing political sphere capitalize on the struggles of men?

The right-wing frames men's struggles as a grievance against the left, blaming progressive policies for men's perceived toxicity and lack of opportunities, thereby exploiting these issues for political gain without offering viable solutions.

Why does the left often ignore or downplay the issues faced by men?

The left often remains silent on men's issues due to a reflexive resistance to acknowledging any inequalities that might benefit men, fearing it could undermine the broader fight for gender equality and be seen as insensitive to women's struggles.

What is the problem with the term 'toxic masculinity'?

The term 'toxic masculinity' is problematic because it is used indiscriminately to describe any behavior deemed undesirable and implies an inherent flaw in masculinity, which can be exploited by reactionary forces to alienate men from progressive causes.

What are the potential consequences if men continue to fall behind in education and employment?

If men continue to struggle in education and employment, it could lead to a decline in their earning potential, which is detrimental to families and society as a whole. A world with floundering men is unlikely to support flourishing women and children.

Chapters
The chapter explores the political discourse around men and boys, focusing on how Donald Trump courted young male voters and the broader societal issues highlighted by Richard Reeves in his book 'Of Boys and Men'.
  • Donald Trump pursued young male votes through influencers like Joe Rogan and Adin Ross.
  • Richard Reeves argues that the mainstream political discourse around men is fundamentally broken.
  • The focus is on cisgender and heterosexual men, highlighting issues of education, employment, and societal roles.

Shownotes Transcript

In the run up to the election Donald Trump was doggedly pursuing the votes of young men. He courted them, as we described on the show, through interviews with influencers like Joe Rogan and Adin Ross, and Logan Paul. These personalities are part of the so-called manosphere, where anti-feminist, often right-wing politics are the norm. While reporting on this corner of the internet, host Micah Loewinger has been thinking a lot about a conversation he had with Richard Reeves*,* author of the book of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why It Matters and What to Do About It. When Micah spoke to him last year, he said that the mainstream political discourse around men is fundamentally broken.

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