Modern men: masculinity in crisis?

Ken ventured out into the “real world” from Barbieland and returned with a new definition of masculinity. Andrew Tate’s influence on teen boys has amplified conversations about the “manosphere.” People around the world are eager for new rules for being a man-why?
Men are struggling. That’s what Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, contends, pointing to the widespread mental health crisis men and boys are facing in developed countries, as suicide rates rise. Meanwhile, higher education enrollment for men is lower than ever, and historically male-dominated jobs like manufacturing and farming are disappearing. Reeves says we must acknowledge these problems in order to solve them, but maintains that helping men does not and should not come at the expense of women.
Dr. Barbara Risman, editor in chief of "Gender & Society," says that we're not grappling with a crisis of masculinity, but rather a socio-economic crisis that's hurting working-class women and men-especially men of color. To fix this, she says we must create more economic support for these men, be it in jobs or education, and update our ideas of traditional gender roles. Watch the Doha Debates Podcast as our guests debate what the future of masculinity should look like and how to help men and boys without getting trapped in the manosphere.
Doha Debates Podcast is a production of Doha Debates and FP Studios. This episode is hosted by Joshua Johnson. Thoughts on this conversation? Let us know! Follow us everywhere @DohaDebates and join the post-episode discussion in our KZbin comments.
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[@jorda_n_]

Lost me on the pay gap. It doesn’t exist. There’s a far greater amount of women in higher positions such as CEO’s as oppose to Bin men or lorry drivers. It’s selective equality not genuine equality.

[@calunarcizo6969]

I also loved when he said ''explain what is non-toxic masculinity in a way that differs from the concept of femininity''.

[@lfisher4539]

The noble type of man feels himself to be the determiner of values, he does not need to be approved of, he judges 'what harms me is harmful in itself' he knows himself to be that which in general accords honour to things, he creates values

[@GallicNine]

strong argument

[@shamimBaig]

Great debate: The Doha Debates podcast on "Modern Men: Masculinity in Crisis?" presented a compelling exchange of viewpoints between Richard Reeves, President of the American Institute for Boys and Men, and Dr. Barbara Risman, Editor in Chief of "Gender & Society." The discussion delved into contrasting interpretations of the challenges faced by men and boys in today's society, highlighting nuanced perspectives on the root causes and potential solutions. Richard Reeves emphasized the pressing mental health crisis among men and boys, underlining alarming trends such as declining higher education enrollment and the loss of historically male-dominated jobs. His argument revolved around the urgency of addressing these issues without undermining the progress of women. Reeves's interest lay in recognizing and mitigating the struggles faced by men and boys in various spheres, advocating for dedicated support mechanisms. On the other hand, Dr. Barbara Risman offered a broader socio-economic context, contending that the crisis isn't solely a masculinity issue but a larger socio-economic problem disproportionately impacting working-class men, particularly men of color. Her focus was on providing economic support, revamping traditional gender roles, and creating inclusive pathways for men within societal structures. In considering these perspectives, I find resonance in acknowledging the challenges encountered by men and boys in mental health and education, while simultaneously recognizing the broader socio-economic crisis. My interest lies in seeking inclusive solutions that address these challenges without disregarding the complex socio-economic context that influences them. The aim is to create approaches benefiting all genders, fostering inclusivity and progress. To further enrich this discourse, additional stakeholders could play crucial roles. Representatives from mental health organizations, education boards, and labor unions could contribute valuable insights into the policies and frameworks affecting men's mental health, educational opportunities, and job prospects. This multidimensional dialogue could offer a holistic understanding of the challenges faced and potential avenues for resolution. Although both debaters presented differing primary causes and approaches, common ground emerged in acknowledging the struggles faced by men and boys. This recognition opens the door to a comprehensive discussion seeking solutions that address these challenges while considering the broader socio-economic factors at play. In engaging with such debates, the emphasis should lie on appreciating diverse viewpoints and seeking common ground. It's an opportunity to bridge perspectives and advocate for inclusive solutions that acknowledge and address the struggles faced by men and boys while considering the larger societal framework that shapes their experiences.

[@Krunchtastic727]

I didn't know that men named john took up over 35% of CEO's. So if this lady can't get that fact straight I'm curious how many things she wants to believe just so her world view isn't shattered.

[@janviranish]

36:11 Okay. Non-toxic masculinity, or healthy masculinity, is when men embrace emotional intelligence, share their vulnerabilities and challenges, celebrate individuality and authenticity, hold themselves accountable, and engage in respectful and open communication. Redefining masculinity with these positive qualities will help individuals break free from harmful gender-based stereotypes such as aggressiveness and dominance. I don't understand why there's a need for distinct societal expectations based on gender. Healthy femininity should not require a separate definition from healthy masculinity. They aren't mutually exclusive, and individuals of any gender can embody traits associated with any gender. While we may not need to entirely eliminate the concepts of masculinity or femininity, it's high time we at least redefine and expand our definitions to be more inclusive and not perpetuate a culture of harmful learned behaviors. Let's not confine entire genders to a limited set of qualities. We've seen enough of how such unrealistic boxes and gender norms is problematic. Let people express their authentic gender identity freely.

[@Verkoper-gx2xz]

Yes, yet one cannot deny that differences between the sexes continue to exist. This is mostly due to the fact that different hormones and neurobiology shape behaviour. So, just pretending that "everyone can be him/herself and show behaviour that he/she likes, regardless whether this is mostly seen as masculine or feminine" is missing a point. There are similarities between the sexes AND differences. On average, there is certain behaviour that a man is more likely to display than a women ... Denying such interpretation not only denies reality, but is also dangerious. This could namely imply that it is acceptable to punish boys more often at school, even if they just show typical boys behaviour (and yes that exists - it is called testosterone driven behaviour; also known as basic biology).

[@aussiewanderer6304]

Women/media: "Andrew Tate is a bad example of masculinity." Question: so who is a GOOD example? Women/media: silence...

[@pepito3991]

roger federer is a good example, idk i don't go about my day looking for guys to jack off as they tell me how to live my life

[@ComradeYinkai]

Was there supposed to be a point to this?

[@expectationmazarura1338]

Quit an enthralling conversation here, masculinity is not inherently toxic and thus terms such as toxic masculinity do a great disservice to this functional aspect of identity. What we should be doing is not calling out masculinity, but curbing the learned and socialised undertones of it that are harmful and lead to femicide and violence buy a reconditioning of the socialization process and introduction of more effective sanctioning measures, but still preserving masculinity

[@calunarcizo6969]

We are always at each other's throats about gender, race, and sex. We should consistently check which biases are at play, hindering progress, and which groups are hindered, regardless of who they are. However, this can't be done universally due to cultural shifts. Context matters. When it comes to education and opportunities, we should ensure that all people have access to education, irrespective of race, gender, and class. If a group within a culture lacks access to education, why is that the case? What underlies this problem? How can we solve it? I agree that affirmative action can drive progress. Also, what narratives are we telling each other about that group? Is this affecting their access to education? In the dating world, we should focus more on emotional intelligence, normalizing the expression of emotions, understanding how to conduct ourselves, and learning to engage in proper conversations. Everyone should understand their finances, career, plans, goals, and how birth control works. People should be able to explore things together as a couple, as a team. Wants to know who is gonna pay the bills? Discuss it, and learn how to negotiate.

[@janviranish]

YES. The responsibility for paying the bill should not be assigned to one gender alone. Opting to split the bill, taking turns covering expenses, or engaging in a conversation beforehand are all valid options. Let’s avoid establishing an unnecessary standard for ALL men to bear the financial burden. You want to pay the bill, sure. Let's not assume all men wish the same.

[@Guillhez]

hearing this conversation was sure tough.. these people are so behind and detached

[@nourbesbes3239]

Fast evolution of social norms affecting gender roles has made it harder for men to shape their own perception of themselves and thus how they present themselves to the world.

[@billusher2265]

35:43 what is Richard even talking about, most feminist advocates are not urging us to stop using the term, they literally publish books using it and even have college classes on it. I only know of one mainstream feminist who cautioned against the term.

[@davecarl7142]

My take, at least in the in the US, women can't or don't compete with men In highly demanding careers were the market dictates were you must produce results or lose a paying client, it is still, for the most part, a male dominated business. It is not because of sexism, it is because of work life balance. This is also shown in academia were the majority of women are switching majors, from STEM to Life sciences. Statistically, in university women switch to less demanding majors more, than thier male counterparts. This is also shown in highly risk taking and physical demanding jobs( such as police, fishing, oil worker) were the average career of women is less than 3 years and of men it's 7 years. Plus, in hours worked, women work around 32 hours a week and men work around 50 hours a week on average. On the other, hand, it now come to light, single women unattached, are now working more hours than single men unattached. Relationships do play major role for both sexes. For motivating men and financially compensating women.

[@thatwasprettyneat]

Woman on the right is a hero for saying that women are oppressed and masculinity is a learned behavior. Period.

[@Verkoper-gx2xz]

Masculity is learned behaviour (?) Are you familiar with the 'conservative' concept of biology (?)

[@thatwasprettyneat]

@@Verkoper-gx2xz I was being ironic.

[@silaslovespeace7398]

you are all wrong . Masculinity is not gender based .

[@Rita1984]

A man paying for a woman on a date only shows the power that the woman has. My now husband payed for everything on dates and he always had me choose what to do

[@ComradeYinkai]

Anecdote Andy strikes again!

[@michaeltayeby6242]

It is not a wonderfull to make women to be provider , this is against human nature , women are mothers which has the highest values. Women as providers confuses them . I love my mother as wonderful person mainly she took care of family . she did not work out of home . faithfull mother who proudly obyed her husband at all times .