Richard. You failed to mention your interview on Russ Roberts’ EconTalk. I was delighted to see that you were the guest and because of it I came to know and like you. It motivated me to buy your book, which arrives on Monday.
As the mother of 2 teenage boys, I appreciate your thoughtful discussions about boys, men and masculinity.
Much of what is written (and covered in the media) focuses on the grievances of men who feel left behind as the world has changed around them. However, some (many?) boys and men are thriving. Who's doing well and why? I'll bet we can learn a lot from them.
I am encouraged by the emergence of a new kind of "prototypical male" role model: Travis Kelce, Doug Emhoff, Tim Walz, Mark Cuban, Brian Chesky all come to mind, but I'm sure there are many more. All men who succeed in their own fields and seem incredibly comfortable co-existing and partnering with strong, successful women. I think much can be learned from them as well.
We need to move forward to a more balanced approach that leans into the strengths of men and women, and allows us to work, live and love together rather than fighting each other.
After reading your comment, you lean so much in favor of democrats that is offensive. We know that Melinda Gates IS paying you, but at least you may try to seem neutral.
GOP is the only party that is willing to end wokeness and discriminating against men. And that was created by the left. No, sorry, but no. MEN are NOT voting the left. NO WAY.
América is not longer a "patriarchy". Its a Gynocentric matriarchy (more women voting). This is not about equality, its about a war against men. Trump at least will stop the war, and perhaps, only perhaps, the Left Will start thinking more about men then.
"the failure of the right"?? Really?? Thanks to Trump there is no longer affirmative action at Universities. And GOP IS prohibiting DEI at Red states. They are terminating with discriminating against men that the Left created. This suffices for me.
Btw, if Trump losses, the feminist agenda will be stronger than EVER.
Trump is the only wise vote for men.
And no: masculinity has not "some good things". Its all good things. Masculinity has never been toxic.
Also 90% of police officers, firefighters, and men defending you from crime.
Also, the female crime has been increasing from the year 2000 at a rate higher than men. Soon, we will see gender equality on this. In 20-30 yearas time
Women had litlle options to commit crimes. Now they have more their crime IS increasing accordingly.
And lesbians have more than gays and also the highest rate of divorce. Makes that all lesbians bad? Stop treating people as a group, and treat them as people
He IS being paid by Melinda Gates and therefore leaning to the left.
The left has made a war on men. And t end that war they shall lose this election. Men are for the first time very motivated and organized: that scares them.
Reeves makes a good point of recognizing the discussion around masculinity, but a larger part of the conversation is needed around the sexual dimorphism of male and female and things like brain-sex difference and how those differences contribute to the way our boys and men react to stress and trauma. For instance, testosterone is often presented in the mainstream as a violence hormone, which it is not. In fact, low testosterone contributes to mood disorders and depression. Over the last 30 years, testosterone in males has dropped dramatically, some 30%. Conversely, suicide and overdose deaths have skyrocketed.
Not understanding brain-sex difference also hurts boys and girls in the classroom and the reason pedagogical training and approaches in boys and girls learn differently is critical to closing--not only the learning gap for boys--but improving the proficiencies for boys and girls in math, reading, and science. As well as, the mental health of boys, girls, men, and women.
The conversation around male/female (rooted in basic biology) and masculinity (a social construct) have a place, but it is the first principle that is the primary factor. Conversations around masculine stereotypes worry me because I do think they drive us away from the first principle. After all, a man does not commit a violent act because he is masculine; he commits a violent act because he is mentally ill.
Hi Sean - GIBM follower here. Curious what to say to folks when they ask why men commit more violent acts? (As they blame testosterone.) Is that primarily a stereotype or deeper in the brain-sex difference/stress response or something else?
Thanks Feral Liberarian, The culture based approach dismisses the brain-based approach and blames violence on a primarily male hormone. I'm going to borrow some words from Michael Gurian from a project we are working on: "Boys and men become violent because their brain chemistry experiences the disease of violence on the male depression spectrum." He goes on to talk about the American Medical Association and how it used to treat violence as a disease. What changed?
Contemporary narratives around "masculinity" tend to dismiss sex-difference. And as I like to say, violence is an action derived from deep pain, trauma, and other causes that are not testosterone driven and happen with males and females but with males in greater degree.
Opinion (testosterone as violence mechanism) is not evidence (brain-sex-difference) and that is what one tends to see in the testosterone debate. In fact, testosterone levels are dropping so what explains the increase in male self-harm, addiction (self-medication), and the hurting of others? It is mental illness born from a different male brain-spectrum.
That's interesting. Viewing violence as a disease with emotional or physical trauma as disease vectors makes me wonder if boys and men have a type of low-grade PTSD (e.g. increased dysregulated anger and heightened aggression as well as the risk of violence and aggressive responses to threats). Thank you for the work you are doing bringing more dimensions to gender discussions.
Societies with more men and testosterone (Iceland or China) are more peaceful than societies with more women or lower testosterone (US or Russia, f.e.).
Female criminality has increased by 300% in Spain since 2000, while male criminality has descended.
Masculinity was not toxica: It was simply freedom. Now women are masculino they star committing the same level of crimes.
I remember that Ezra Klein interview well - it seemed like I could hear both of you stretching and sharpening your thinking in real time. I'm glad they replayed it!
Richard. You failed to mention your interview on Russ Roberts’ EconTalk. I was delighted to see that you were the guest and because of it I came to know and like you. It motivated me to buy your book, which arrives on Monday.
As the mother of 2 teenage boys, I appreciate your thoughtful discussions about boys, men and masculinity.
Much of what is written (and covered in the media) focuses on the grievances of men who feel left behind as the world has changed around them. However, some (many?) boys and men are thriving. Who's doing well and why? I'll bet we can learn a lot from them.
I am encouraged by the emergence of a new kind of "prototypical male" role model: Travis Kelce, Doug Emhoff, Tim Walz, Mark Cuban, Brian Chesky all come to mind, but I'm sure there are many more. All men who succeed in their own fields and seem incredibly comfortable co-existing and partnering with strong, successful women. I think much can be learned from them as well.
We need to move forward to a more balanced approach that leans into the strengths of men and women, and allows us to work, live and love together rather than fighting each other.
After reading your comment, you lean so much in favor of democrats that is offensive. We know that Melinda Gates IS paying you, but at least you may try to seem neutral.
GOP is the only party that is willing to end wokeness and discriminating against men. And that was created by the left. No, sorry, but no. MEN are NOT voting the left. NO WAY.
América is not longer a "patriarchy". Its a Gynocentric matriarchy (more women voting). This is not about equality, its about a war against men. Trump at least will stop the war, and perhaps, only perhaps, the Left Will start thinking more about men then.
"the failure of the right"?? Really?? Thanks to Trump there is no longer affirmative action at Universities. And GOP IS prohibiting DEI at Red states. They are terminating with discriminating against men that the Left created. This suffices for me.
Btw, if Trump losses, the feminist agenda will be stronger than EVER.
Trump is the only wise vote for men.
And no: masculinity has not "some good things". Its all good things. Masculinity has never been toxic.
MEN ARE DONE WITH THE WOKE LEFT.
Nearly ALL murders, rapes and violent crimes are committed by men (very often against women). How is this not toxic?
Also 90% of police officers, firefighters, and men defending you from crime.
Also, the female crime has been increasing from the year 2000 at a rate higher than men. Soon, we will see gender equality on this. In 20-30 yearas time
Women had litlle options to commit crimes. Now they have more their crime IS increasing accordingly.
This was predicted even by feminists.
Update yourself.
"Also 90% of police officers, firefighters, and men defending you from crime."
--- In the USA police officers and firefighters are 2 of the job demographics who have the highest rates of domestic violence.
And lesbians have more than gays and also the highest rate of divorce. Makes that all lesbians bad? Stop treating people as a group, and treat them as people
The lesbian thing has been debunked.
So has the police thing.
And actually your statistics about police officers are false.
https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/xvnvvu/cmv_the_statistic_about_40_of_police_officers/
Female crime increased at a reate twice than men since 1980. 600% increase in female crime.
https://www.sentencingproject.org/fact-sheet/incarcerated-women-and-girls/
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/crimes-women-are-rise-all-over-world
Masculinity was not relates in aby manner with crime. It was the contrary,: the masculino Guy was the sheriff, not the thief.
Feminist was so protective that women had no options to commit crimes. Now they have the opportunity, they are doing so.
BUT men are punished harder by the system for the same offence. This IS ACTUALLY discrimintion against men (again).
Even your comment IS.
And now that women are incarcilating, feminists are looking to waya to treat them better than incarcilated male. Because females are always wonderful.
Other discrimintion against males.
You write "the failure of the political left ... to admit positive aspects of masculinity." Until that changes there is no path forward.
He IS being paid by Melinda Gates and therefore leaning to the left.
The left has made a war on men. And t end that war they shall lose this election. Men are for the first time very motivated and organized: that scares them.
I’ve certainly been pushed away from the Left without being pulled into the Right.
You better vote for Trump or the feminist agenda will get worst
Reeves makes a good point of recognizing the discussion around masculinity, but a larger part of the conversation is needed around the sexual dimorphism of male and female and things like brain-sex difference and how those differences contribute to the way our boys and men react to stress and trauma. For instance, testosterone is often presented in the mainstream as a violence hormone, which it is not. In fact, low testosterone contributes to mood disorders and depression. Over the last 30 years, testosterone in males has dropped dramatically, some 30%. Conversely, suicide and overdose deaths have skyrocketed.
Not understanding brain-sex difference also hurts boys and girls in the classroom and the reason pedagogical training and approaches in boys and girls learn differently is critical to closing--not only the learning gap for boys--but improving the proficiencies for boys and girls in math, reading, and science. As well as, the mental health of boys, girls, men, and women.
The conversation around male/female (rooted in basic biology) and masculinity (a social construct) have a place, but it is the first principle that is the primary factor. Conversations around masculine stereotypes worry me because I do think they drive us away from the first principle. After all, a man does not commit a violent act because he is masculine; he commits a violent act because he is mentally ill.
Hi Sean - GIBM follower here. Curious what to say to folks when they ask why men commit more violent acts? (As they blame testosterone.) Is that primarily a stereotype or deeper in the brain-sex difference/stress response or something else?
Thanks Feral Liberarian, The culture based approach dismisses the brain-based approach and blames violence on a primarily male hormone. I'm going to borrow some words from Michael Gurian from a project we are working on: "Boys and men become violent because their brain chemistry experiences the disease of violence on the male depression spectrum." He goes on to talk about the American Medical Association and how it used to treat violence as a disease. What changed?
Contemporary narratives around "masculinity" tend to dismiss sex-difference. And as I like to say, violence is an action derived from deep pain, trauma, and other causes that are not testosterone driven and happen with males and females but with males in greater degree.
Opinion (testosterone as violence mechanism) is not evidence (brain-sex-difference) and that is what one tends to see in the testosterone debate. In fact, testosterone levels are dropping so what explains the increase in male self-harm, addiction (self-medication), and the hurting of others? It is mental illness born from a different male brain-spectrum.
That's interesting. Viewing violence as a disease with emotional or physical trauma as disease vectors makes me wonder if boys and men have a type of low-grade PTSD (e.g. increased dysregulated anger and heightened aggression as well as the risk of violence and aggressive responses to threats). Thank you for the work you are doing bringing more dimensions to gender discussions.
Societies with more men and testosterone (Iceland or China) are more peaceful than societies with more women or lower testosterone (US or Russia, f.e.).
Female criminality has increased by 300% in Spain since 2000, while male criminality has descended.
Masculinity was not toxica: It was simply freedom. Now women are masculino they star committing the same level of crimes.
Nobody talks about this.
Wonderful, Richard. I'm fully on board.
I remember that Ezra Klein interview well - it seemed like I could hear both of you stretching and sharpening your thinking in real time. I'm glad they replayed it!
I don't think you actually included a link to the Washington Post story - here it is: https://wapo.st/4dQCTBy