Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It

Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It by Richard V. Reeves

Men are struggling today. Traditional "manual labor" careers are disappearing. There has been a lot of effort to increase female representation in traditional male vocations. However, there has been little effort to increase male representation in traditional female vocations (and homemaking). The educational institutions are tilted in favor the average girl. Boys tend to mature later than girls, putting them at a disadvantage. Society often focuses on the male dominance at the top. However, this masks the significant challenges for the majority. To make matters worse, there is a reluctance to call out male challenges. "Toxic Masculinity" is often thrown out to disparage negative actions by boys, regardless of the how small. Males (especially white males) are seen as "privileged", thus making it hard to advocate for them. Even non-white males get caught on the outside of programs meant to help others. (For instance, black females have seen great gains in education attainment, while males seldom take advantage of opportunities.)

This book is careful to acknowledge that people differ greatly. There is a significant overlap in male and female attributes and abilities. Programs like Title IX have helped increase female access to education. There are many organizations that strive to help women in traditional male careers (e.g. "Women in STEM"). There are very few that help attract men to traditional female careers. Early childhood education is dominated by females. Efforts have been made to increase female representation at higher education, but little has been done to support males in elementary education. There has also been little support for men to take on traditional childcare and home roles.

What needs to be done? The author suggests giving opportunities to "red shirt" children and let them start school later. This would especially benefit boys. Giving child care for this would also help. Programs should be put in place to encourage balance in female-dominated professions. Health care and education were two areas mentioned. Vocational education should also be encouraged. Men should not be overly victimized. Treating men fairly and seeking balance would benefit men - and women.