Of Boys and Men: Why the modern male is struggling, why it matters, and what to do about it

Boys are falling behind at school and college due to structural challenges, such as the educational system being structed in ways that put them at a disadvantage, men are struggling in the labor market due to an economic shift away from traditionally male jobs, and fathers are dislocated because the cultural role of family provider has been hollowed out. Feminism has done a huge amount of good, but we need its corollary, a positive vision of masculinity that is compatible with gender equality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2023
Publisher: Swift Press

Boys are significantly more likely than girls to fail at all three key school subjects: mathematics, reading, and science. In the United States, the wages of most men are lower today than they were in 1979, while women's wages have risen across the board. In the United Kingdom, suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45. Boys are falling behind in school and college due to the educational system's structural disadvantages, which put them at a disadvantage. Men are struggling in the labor market due to an economic shift away from traditionally male jobs. And fathers are dislocated because the cultural role of family provider has been hollowed out. The male malaise is not the result of a mass psychological breakdown, but of deep structural challenges.

Structural challenges require structural solutions, and this is what Richard V. Reeves proposes in Of Boys and Men. Reeves suggests starting boys at school a year later than girls, getting more men into caring professions, and rethinking the role of fatherhood outside of a nuclear family context. Feminism has done a huge amount of good in the world, and we now need its corollary – a positive vision of masculinity that is compatible with gender equality.

In conclusion, the male malaise is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. We need to address the structural challenges that are putting men at a disadvantage in the education, labor, and family systems. This can be achieved by starting boys at school a year later than girls, getting more men into caring professions, and rethinking the role of fatherhood outside of a nuclear family context. We also need to promote a positive vision of masculinity that is compatible with gender equality. Only then can we create a more equitable and prosperous society for all.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800751033