Richard Reeves, a social scientist and author of "Of Boys and Men," delves into the struggling state of modern masculinity. He highlights alarming disparities in education, mental health, and economic prospects among men. Reeves argues that society often overlooks men's issues in fear of undermining women's advancements, advocating for a balanced approach. He emphasizes the importance of meaningful male friendships and community in combating isolation, while challenging outdated notions of masculinity and encouraging men to embrace their identities in a changing world.
01:12:46
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Overlooked Struggles
Society often overlooks men's struggles due to a fear that it might detract from women's issues.
This creates a false dilemma where caring about men's issues implies neglecting women's issues.
insights INSIGHT
Male Crisis Indicators
Men are facing a crisis in suicide rates, drug poisoning deaths, and stagnant wages.
Educational attainment is also declining, with fewer men attending and excelling in college.
question_answer ANECDOTE
School Readiness
Jordan Harbinger shares how his daughter, despite being younger, exhibits more school-readiness than his son.
Richard Reeves reflects on similar experiences with his sons, highlighting a common parental observation.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Of Boys and Men,' Richard V. Reeves delves into the complex and urgent crisis of boyhood and manhood. He discusses how profound economic and social changes have led to many boys and men losing ground in education, the workplace, and family life. Reeves presents detailed research on the structural challenges, including lower academic performance, declining labor force participation, and the specific hardships faced by black boys and men. He argues that both conservative and progressive politicians have failed to provide effective solutions and offers fresh, innovative proposals such as delaying boys' entry into school, increasing male teachers, and improving vocational education. The book emphasizes the need for a positive vision of masculinity in a more equal world without compromising gender equality[3][4][5].
Of Boys and Men author Richard Reeves explains how we can address men's modern struggles without undermining women's gains.
What We Discuss with Richard Reeves:
Men are falling behind in multiple areas — education (60/40 female/male college ratio), mental health (40,000 male suicides annually), and economically (wages for men without college degrees have remained flat since 1979).
Society often overlooks men's struggles due to fears that addressing them might diminish focus on women's issues, creating a false "either/or" narrative when we need an "and" approach.
Traditional male roles as breadwinners have diminished without being replaced by expanded roles, leaving many men feeling lost and vulnerable to extremist ideologies.
Increasing social isolation affects men disproportionately, with 15% of men under 30 reporting they don't have a single friend, contributing to mental health challenges.
Men can overcome these challenges by connecting with other men, developing meaningful friendships, pursuing their own authentic path, and recognizing there's nothing wrong with being male. Building supportive male relationships and communities is essential for well-being and can counteract isolation while providing positive models of masculinity.
The Jordan Harbinger Show 
