Politics for men
There is fertile ground for a pro-male agenda
I have a longish piece up in Politico setting out a manifesto for boys and men that is compatible with ongoing efforts for girls and women. I encourage you to read the whole thing but here’s a flavor:
With the election just a few weeks away, the contest for the votes of men is heating up. Young women’s support is effectively locked up for the Democrats, but young men still seem up for grabs and the Trump-Vance ticket is making inroads, with some polls showing a double-digit advantage.
Ironically, an election that was supposed to be about women because of the issue of abortion rights may in the end be decided by the votes of young men.
I go on:
The failure to engage with men’s issues is proving to be a costly mistake, particularly in our politics and culture. The challenges facing many men, especially working-class men and men of color, are not the confections of the online “manosphere.”They are real. But they have not been sufficiently addressed, or sometimes even acknowledged. This has left a vacuum, which has been filled, in many cases, by more reactionary voices from the manosphere.
When problems are neglected, they metastasize into grievances. And grievances can be weaponized in service of reactionary goals. The solution, then, is almost comically simple: Don’t neglect the problems.
…
It is not too late to set out an explicit policy agenda for boys and men, in the key areas of health, education and family life. Whoever did so would send a powerful signal to male voters: We see you. We acknowledge your challenges, and we have positive ideas about how to help.
And I conclude:
Can either party show that it cares equally about the flourishing of men and women, girls and boys? There is still time.
Do check out the article and as always, let me know what you think!
Richard, thank you for your insightful analysis of the Democrats' struggle to engage male voters. However, reading between the lines, it seems less like a policy paradox and more like a lack of genuine engagement. While you mention that the Democrats have tangible, pro-male initiatives, it is telling that, as you point out, "There is a new Gender Policy Council in the White House, but it has not addressed a single issue facing boys or men."
The proposed policies you've outlined are an excellent starting point, particularly increasing male representation in teaching and expanding career and technical education. In my own experience with a website design course, there are six teachers, only one of whom is male. He is also the only one who knows how to code, and it is for that reason he is also my tutor for an additional two hours per week. I suspect the gender imbalance among my teachers is partly due to affirmative action aimed at encouraging women into the tech industry.
Democrats need to do more than just repackage existing policies—they need to truly prioritize the concerns of men and boys, ensuring they feel seen and valued. Expanding initiatives to foster male participation in key professions and directly addressing men’s health and family challenges would go a long way toward bridging the gap. It's time to end the zero-sum mentality and build a comprehensive policy agenda that supports everyone—men, women, and the families they create. Your call for this balanced approach should resonate with policymakers before it's too late.
Fertile ground for a pro male agenda? If that is correct why has the white house spent nearly four years with their Gender Policy Council that focuses EXCLUSIVELY on women and girls. This administration has a history of blaming boys and men and catering to women and girls. Way, way, way, too late.