EDITORIAL: Boy meets hostile world
Are the boys doing alright? For some, it may feel a bit odd to ask this question. Men have had more privileges in the U.S. than women have. Given that men overwhelmingly dominate the C-Suite at many companies and are overrepresented in the federal elected government, it can be easy to view men as just having the easy road.
But that can often neglect the real issues boys and young men face regarding the educational system and interpersonal relationships, leading them to online influencers that offer dangerous solutions to their issues.
The issue starts at the beginning when these men are boys.
Zooming into the education system, it is clear that there is an issue. From stagnating high school graduation rates to grades overall, it is clear that men are struggling early.
Grades aside, boys, especially Black boys, tend to be the target of suspensions. These suspensions, coupled with zero-tolerance policies, hurt academic success and preserve the school-to-prison pipeline, hurting future employment and future academic success.
Their underperformance in education is also affecting their job prospects. Men have been checking out of the workforce, as indicated by their lowered labor force participation rate since 1989, especially as traditionally male-dominated industries, such as manufacturing, have been hit hard by lower employment opportunities.
This has fueled further wedges between men and women, as these earnings have been detrimental to getting into relationships. Coupled with the fact that 63 percent of men below the age of 30 describe themselves as being single, compared to 34 percent of women identifying as single, it can be a source of frustration among men who feel that they have been getting pushed to the margins of society.
As these men seemingly cannot find employment and get into relationships, it is taking a toll on their mental health. Men have reported greater levels of loneliness, likely caused by men being conditioned to repress their feelings, preventing them from expressing emotional vulnerability, one of the key trademarks in forming relationships.
Given these factors, many men are feeling directionless and forgotten in today's society. As a result, they turn to figures that speak to their concerns. Unfortunately, this has led to the rise of the online manosphere through online content creators like Andrew Tate, Sneako and Myron Gaines.
They are able to offer a solution to men feeling marginalized. According to them, instead of trying to get into a relationship, just focus on vapid material possessions. These online content creators are able to fuel men's frustration against women, especially as they promote misogyny.
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It is easy to criticize and mock these "alpha males" as conniving snake oil salesmen, but their impact is not something to trivialize.
Their core audience tends to be young men, some of whom are incredibly impressionable, whether that be due to age or vulnerability. Thus, they are willing to parrot these misogynistic talking points without truly considering the implications of their words.
The impact of this boy crisis and the rise of the manosphere have some serious implications for the U.S. as a whole. With the impending 2024 Presidential election, young men seem to be a make-or-break demographic for either campaign.
We have seen former President Donald J. Trump make strong efforts to reach these young men by going on podcasts with young male audiences and pledging to protect flavored vapes.
This starkly contrasts the Democratic Party's approach of shaming men for not voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.
With these two representations, it is no wonder why Trump is leading among young men.
If this is the case, is this the future? A more polarized society where demography is destiny? Fortunately, there are alternatives to this future.
Many men have been presented with a dichotomy of masculinity from both the online manosphere and figures like Trump — either you are the alpha male, who is a rich strongman and can get everything he wants, or you are a beta male, who is weak and pathetic.
Given those two options, it is understandable that men would prefer the former. But these are not the only forms of masculinity.
It is time for alternatives to be presented to men. For every strongman masculine figure that the political Right props up, Democrats ought to counter with their masculine figure for men to turn to.
Politicians like Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.), who are willing to discuss being fathers and being there for their kids, can paint a contrast to the vapid hedonism that the manosphere promotes.
Additionally, Democrats should not be afraid to reach out to men. Politics ought not to be viewed as some zero-sum game. Democrats reaching out to male voters does not undermine their reach to female voters. Recognizing this can help bring men out of the manosphere.
As for broader societal issues, there is work to be done.
Creating a more positive educational environment for men by having more male teachers, especially in subjects like English, can give boys role models who can empathize with their educational struggles.
Additionally, the U.S. government should incentivize different alternatives to college education. Let them figure out the path for themselves rather than trying to fit boys into a hostile education system. This can involve more funding for apprenticeship programs, encouraging men to enter national service and providing alternatives to college education where they can thrive.
The subject of mental health is something harder to solve using only the national government. It is going to have to come down to a more personal level. Reaching out to build strong support systems, along with finding healthier outlets to express emotions, can go a long way in helping men overcome their problems.
As our society strives for gender equality, trying to pit men and women against each other in a sort of "oppression Olympics" will only further the issues both groups face. Rather, working from the start and helping boys get set up for success can help bridge this divide and promote greater understanding between the genders.
The Daily Targum's editorials represent the views of the majority of the 156th editorial board. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
