"The iron rule of politics is that if there are real problems in society and responsible parties don't deal with them, the irresponsible parties will jump on them."
Daniel Schwammenhal
A former UK government strategist and Director of Demos, Richard Reeves now lives in the US and has become a prominent spokesperson on the current situation men now find themselves in. This book for two thirds of it is quite heavy on the statistics which demonstrate just how deep that crisis has become. In essence, policies have expanded women's opportunities and range of options in life, and there has been very little reciprocal political will to do the same for men. The traditional male role of being the main bread winner is all but dead in the water. And without a distinct alternative role and path being cogently portrayed and laid out, men are just floundering, and their frustration is now taking some of them into darker and more extreme reactionary places. By far the largest proportion of MAGA supporters are male. Trump, and the likes of Andrew Tate have been able to talk to this disenchanted generation of men, and co-opt their anger into their own perverting agenda. There is a sense of an existential ennui hanging over masculinity that mainstream politics is not addressing.
The problem is not that women are taking all the formerly male professions. Many of the traditionally male professions are in decline, contracting through environmental and technological developments, something which AI is only going to speed up. A lot of effort was successfully put into encouraging women to see themselves as being able to enter STEM professions, (science, technology, engineering and maths). A reciprocal push to make HEAL professions (health, education, administration and literacy) where opportunities are expanding, should be more appealing to men, this just hasn't been given enough emphasis. The idea that men are privileged by their gender and don't require help, is pernicious and fails to see the consequences of ignoring men's needs. That men doing well, as a benefit to everyone.
However, it is clear that men are not thriving in education and training either, women are outstripping them in both engagement and attainment. The sense is that young men do not see the point, have lost the drive and will to succeed, that women are fully grasping. If men do enter higher education they are quite likely to under attain, or drop out within a year. Male morale is low. Reeve points with particular loathing to the term 'toxic masculinity' which has become used far too broadly and indiscriminately used, on literally anything men do that someone does not like. The despair that this creates, that there is nothing a man can do about it, that they cannot win. This is just really unhelpful. It's comparable to disparagingly refering to women as 'bimbos' all the time.
When it comes to solutions, Reeves lambasts both political left and right for the blinkered narrowness of their focus, The Right puts far too much emphasis on biology and implies a return to more traditional male norms. The left refuses to consider that anything about gender behavioir might by biological in origin, and sees male roles in life as entirely culturally nurtured, so capable of change. Neither approach is either credible or in line with a fuller spectrum of the truth. There are professions which both men and women are less likely to do, not because of social prejudice or gender specific obstacles, but because they just do not appeal that much to them, period. So looking for ways to increase take up will fall short. The bias might be biological not systematic, and we have to be open to that as a possiblity. There is also the sense that feminism can view any initiative to help men, as diverting the focus away from women's needs. But as Reeves emphasizes this is false premise, it is perfectly possible to do both well, and they be complimentary.
He concludes with a series of policy suggestions. That he thinks could help. Boys tend to mature at a slower rate, it could be helpful for them to delay by a year moving to higher education. There need to be more male teachers generally, but specifically in primary education. Gender exemplification being important, particularly in early childhood. Encourage more men to go into HEAL professions, which is an expanding sector. To bring, not just more attention, but more active policy to male needs, because simply ignoring them is not a secondary option anymore.
" In the U.S. a third of men of all political persuasions believe that they are discriminated against, and among Republicans, the number is rising. This is false. While the problems of boys and men are real, they are the result of structural changes in the economy and broader culture, and the failings of our education system, rather than deliberate discrimination. But on the political Right as on the Left, attitudes on gender issues float free of the facts."
This is a thought provoking read. He backs up his opinions with a veritable barrage of facts and statistics. Though I found the constant statistical emphasis began to pall after a while. It became much more engaging once he began talking about solutions and ways forward.
CARROT REVIEW - 5/8
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