On the Media Why Men And Boys Are Struggling
11 snips
Nov 20, 2024 
Richard Reeves, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of "Of Boys and Men," dives into the struggles faced by young men today. He discusses Donald Trump's outreach to young males via social media influencers and critiques the broken political discourse around masculinity. The conversation also explores alarming declines in men's labor participation and the resulting mental health crisis. Reeves emphasizes the need to address gender inequalities in education and employment, urging a fresh perspective on these pressing societal issues.
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Focus and Cognitive Dissonance
- Reeves' book focuses on cisgender, heterosexual men, acknowledging other men's issues.
- He highlights the contrast between men's struggles and their continued dominance at society's apex.
Education Gap Reversal
- The education gap between genders has reversed since 1972, with women now significantly more likely to have college degrees.
- Girls often outperform boys in GPA but not standardized tests, suggesting non-cognitive skills play a role.
Brain Development and Education
- The prefrontal cortex, responsible for organizational skills, develops later in men.
- This developmental difference may contribute to the educational gap, favoring girls who mature faster in this area.
