America's Young Men Are Falling Behind—and Shifting Right
Plain English with Derek Thompson
Need Fuels Connection
The interplay of social constructs like familial ties, community involvement, and labor market relationships is crucial in understanding the connections individuals, particularly working-class men, forge within society. These connections often overlap, reinforcing one another, but the concept of 'neededness' highlights a deeper, more instinctual bond than mere connection. This sense of neededness, which feels more visceral and tribal, is significant for men, contrasting with women's perceptions of their roles. Women generally possess an inherent awareness of their necessity in nurturing roles, particularly with motherhood, while men's identities, including fatherhood, are more rooted in cultural constructs, leading to different social expectations and attachments.
