The Crisis of Masculinity: Unveiling the Struggles of Modern Men
Masculinity, when understood positively, can encompass various attributes that promote strength, responsibility, family focused, and embody sacrifice. It's important to note that masculinity can be expressed in diverse ways, and these qualities can be present in individuals regardless of their gender. There are masculine men, and masculine women. Just because a woman identifies strongly with masculine traits does not mean she is a man.
Masculinity embodies the strength to face challenges with resilience and determination. It involves taking responsibility for one's actions, commitments, and the well-being of others. A man who values family recognizes the significance of nurturing and supporting their loved ones. This includes being actively engaged in building meaningful relationships, providing emotional support, and promoting a sense of unity and cohesion within the family unit. Additionally, sacrifice is an integral part of a positive masculine identity. It involves selflessly giving up personal desires or comforts for the greater good of others, demonstrating a willingness to put the needs of loved ones or the community ahead of one's own. This could be one’s own family such as spending time with the family and participating in actives they enjoy, or ones community which could include volunteering at a local food bank or in matters of civic significance.
It is worth mentioning what ancient philosophers considered to be masculine, considered as something worth pursuing and safeguarding. Plato, a Greek philosopher, emphasized the importance of reason, self-control, and the pursuit of knowledge as essential qualities of a virtuous man. He believed that true masculinity was achieved through the development of wisdom, temperance, courage, and justice. As for Aristotle, another Greek philosopher, viewed masculinity within the context of his concept of virtue ethics. He believed that masculinity was associated with courage, self-discipline, and the ability to exercise rational judgment. For Aristotle, masculinity was linked to the idea of fulfilling one's potential and playing a role in society.
Stepping away from ancient Greek philosophy, Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, emphasized the importance of social roles and relationships in defining masculinity. He believed that men should fulfill their duties as sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, and citizens. Confucius emphasized virtues such as filial piety, loyalty, righteousness, and benevolence as essential aspects of the masculine behavior. Likewise, Stoic philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius advocated for a form of masculinity grounded in self-control, emotional resilience, and moral virtue. They believed that men should endure hardships with dignity, maintain a sense of inner calm, and live in accordance with reason and nature.
These ancient philosophers shared a common emphasis on virtue, moral character, and self-discipline as important aspects of masculinity. They highlighted the fulfillment of social roles and responsibilities, such as family and community obligations. Reason and rationality were considered crucial in developing virtuous masculinity, guiding one's actions and decisions. While there are shared themes, it's important to consider the historical context and evolving perspectives on masculinity.
How far have we strayed from this. As I’ll walk through below, modern masculinity is lacking in the majority of western society and is far from what the ancient greats considered ideal, and is far from what we strive for today.
Men, like women, can experience mental health issues, but societal expectations may discourage them from seeking help or expressing vulnerability. This has lead to underreporting and a higher risk of untreated mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Sadly, men often avoid seeking help, leading down a dark path towards suicide.
The organization Heads up guys has great facts and figures of male suicide rates which are grim. In Canada, men account for 3 out of every 4 suicides. Roughly 8 men take their life every day, amounting to 3,000 deaths per year. Additionally, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under age 50 which isn’t surprising considering 80% of deaths by suicide are men.
While men have historically dominated certain fields and industries, there has been a growing focus on gender equality in education and employment opportunities. As a result, some men are now falling behind, and our education system is now biased against men. Some facts from Scott Galloway’s new book Adrift; 7/10 valedictorians are female and 2/3 of all primary and secondary teachers are female and will understandably champion young woman that they see in themselves. According to Galloway, the traditional classroom environment, which often values quiet and passive behavior can disadvantage boys who tend to be more energetic and active. This results in boys being perceived as disruptive or struggling academically. Additionally, a majority of primary and secondary school teachers are female which has lead to a lack of male role models in the classroom, impacting boys' educational experiences and engagement.
Furthermore, statistical data suggests that, on average, boys have lower academic achievement compared to girls, indicating an achievement gap that needs to be addressed by tailoring teaching methods to better meet the needs of boys. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making, impulse control, and cognitive functions undergoes significant development during adolescence. Girls’ development is ahead by two years in this cognitive development. That means that in the classroom, girls are two years ahead of boys in this development, which puts boys at an unfair advantage in academic achievement, socialization, and university applications.
When it comes to socialization, men’s social circles are shrinking dramatically, according to the Survey Center on American Life, men in their 20’s are more likely than women in their 20s to be romantically uninvolved, sexually dormant, friendless, and lonely. Looking specifically at friendships, men with 6+ friends went from 55% in 1990, to 27% in 2021. In those same years, men with zero close friends went from 3% to 15%.
These facts should not be surprising, as the Atlantic Magazine highlighted that boys, not girls, were falling behind back in 2000. “The typical boy is a year and a half behind the typical girl in reading and writing; he is less committed to school and less likely to go to college. In 1997 college full-time enrollments were 45 percent male and 55 percent female. The Department of Education predicts that the proportion of boys in college classes will continue to shrink” according to author Christina Hoff Sommers.
The role of fathers and family dynamics have evolved over time. There is now greater recognition of the importance of involved fatherhood and shared parenting responsibilities. However, societal expectations and workplace demands can still make it challenging for some men to balance work and family life, leading to feelings of inadequacy or frustration. This is why I always say feminism has lied to women. The pinnacle of achievement should not be career, but instead parenthood. While there have been important barriers broken down for women in the workplace the needs to be an emphasis that career achievements should not be the goal for both men and women. This is why there is such a high rate of divorce amongst CEOs, the demanding job is stressful and keeps you away from your family and loved ones. Not a masculine job if you go back and read what Socrates and others have to say.
As mentioned previously, men who grow up in single-family homes do worse compared to woman who are not as affected, statistically. This isn’t surprising when considering men who grow up without a male role model lack guidance and support in navigating relationships, career, and the general hardships of life. Emotional and phycological impacts can result in the absence of a father figure contributing to challenges in expressing and managing emotions.
More can be said of a negative view of masculinity, such as Andrew Tate who advocates for meant to take zero responsibility for their actions and instead blame all of their issues on women. Additionally, the media’s portrayal of masculinity, new wave feminism, and how Hollywood depicts men and all be further discussed. However, I want to leave with a positive note on what masculinity should be. In search of a positive view of what masculinity should be, one should seriously consider the bible. A book that has stood against the test of time, surviving empires, civilizations, and is arguably the most credible piece of literature in the world. While the Bible does not provide a single, definitive definition of masculinity. However, it does contain various narratives, teachings, and descriptions of men that can be explored to understand biblical perspectives on masculinity.
In the Bible, masculinity is often associated with qualities such as strength, courage, leadership, responsibility, and faithfulness. Men are encouraged to provide and care for their families, be role models of integrity, and take up positions of leadership in their communities.
Some biblical figures, like King David, are depicted as brave and valiant warriors, while others, like Joseph, exhibit qualities of loyalty, humility, and righteousness. Jesus Christ is often seen as the ultimate example of masculinity, embodying love, compassion, self-sacrifice, and servant leadership.
In a world that is often considered descending into chaos, we should embracing the teachings of Jesus and be examples to the world of what a masculinity should be.