Modern Wisdom

#537 - Richard Reeves - Does Anyone Care About Men's Struggles?

Oct 10, 2022

Richard Reeves, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, dives into the pressing struggles of modern men. He discusses how men are lagging in education and labor markets, as well as their roles in family life. The conversation critiques the concept of toxic masculinity, explores gender role dynamics, and highlights developmental differences in boys and girls. Reeves also suggests the need for meaningful male representation in education and redefines fatherhood in today’s context, advocating for a collaborative approach to gender challenges.

01:13:44

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Richard Reeves

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Quick takeaways

Boys lag in education due to structural biases favoring girls, affecting future opportunities.

Economic shifts challenge male identities in adapting to female-dominated sectors for job prospects.

Balancing support for men's struggles with women's rights crucial for holistic gender equality advocacy.

Deep dives

Boys' Educational Challenges

Boys are falling behind in education globally, with girls outperforming them in schools, even in traditionally male-strong subjects like math and science. The structural issues in the education system, such as a focus on certain behaviors that favor girls' development, are leading to this disparity. There are implications for boys' future opportunities as they struggle with impulse control development, affecting their academic performance and potential in the workforce.

Understanding Gender-Based Developmental Differences

00:40

The Decline of Male Impulse Control

01:20

Transforming Criticism into Opportunity

00:40

Toxic Masculinity: A Toxic Term

01:04

Intro

5min

Debating Toxic Masculinity

4min

Navigating Gender Roles and Educational Disparities

20min

Understanding Gender Development

8min

Shifting Labor Market Dynamics

11min

Redefining Fatherhood in Modern Society

25min

Examining the Interconnected Struggles of Men and Women

6min

Richard V. Reeves is a writer, scholar and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Men are falling behind in education, employment and family life. They're underachieving in school, dropping out of the labour market and being less useful around the house more than ever. And this isn't simply cultural as it's happening all over the world, the problem is deeper than that - it's structural.

Expect to learn why there are twice as many female fighter pilots compared with male kindergarten teachers, why a male needs to be 24 to have the same impulse control as a 10 year old girl, where the term toxic masculinity actually came from, whether a man's gain is actually woman's loss, the problem of promoting men's issues in the press and much more...

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