Honestly, in a system that has been geared toward men and boys for centuries, somehow women managed to overcome the roadblocks and take advantage of the opportunities given to them. Despite being unwelcome in previously male-dominated spaces, despite the sexual harassment, despite the hostile working and education environments, despite the clear favoritism toward men for promotions and pay scale, women have forged ahead anyway, breaking down barriers and making incremental progress toward equity.
So who are we talking about, really? Are these working class boys who have always eschewed education as something only white people and “pussies” do, or are we talking about a shift among boys’ attitudes in families that have always placed a high priority on education? If the former, then that’s going to be a tough nut to crack, given cultural conditions that create these attitudes in the first place. Manly man jobs in factories and auto plants haven’t been a thing in this country for decades, ever since we outsourced most manufacturing to other countries that pay their workers peanuts. So what world do you live in that makes you think those jobs are coming back? Might that mean getting an education instead?
If the latter, then here’s my advice: get some therapy. Find out why competing with women for status and jobs irks you so much. Find out why you believe the world owes you something you haven’t earned. Find out why you have consistently been OK with women earning less than you when the chances are she probably outperforms you. Find out why you still believe you have to be a “provider” instead of a partner. The world is changing. It always has. But now men are expected to change with it, and they’re throwing a hissy fit.
Not all men are white, upper-income, cisgendered, and living it up in the cities. A good number of men are from marginalized communities or situations who happen to identify as males in some way shape or form. Please think twice before dismissing all men as having privileges while also considering challenges women and other marginalized communities have had to overcome in white supremacist male-dominated domains.
It's so irritating the way when women have a 'problem' it takes decades or centuries to become newsworthy, men have a problem - quick, we must deal with it. Look at breast cancer for example, when it was only women getting it progress was sooo slow. A few men get it and suddenly millions are poured into research, they get checked out at the drop of a hat... When millions of women were addicted to prescription meds (mothers little helpers) it was overlooked or joked about, now men are "ooh, the tragedy"! Men need to grow up and accept they are responsible for themselves - when they decide to leave it's women left raising the kids, it's not our job to mollycoddle men as well!
Marginalized males are still a real problem despite politics being dominated by elite, privileged males that often happen to be straight white cis guys
1) try “getting therapy”, it’s not actually readily available in America as you suggest (google it) 2) if you are convinced that women in America have succeeded in the positive ways you use to compare, then gee-whiz, go ahead and stop complaining about their repeated political losses at the presidential level. Apparently, “you’ve got this” on your own 3) stop asking how a 34 time convicted child molesting fascist pos managed to become elected over the more qualified woman of color and 4) maybe do a little brushing up on your own reading comprehension that allowed you to miss the point of this entire article so spectacularly as to need to ask the misinformed questions you just did. Yeah, you let your bitterness over the life long feminist battles keep providing the dark-side magats with ongoing support and votes, and victories despite this article’s suggestions on how to stop those losses … coz that’s a strategy that’s worked so well fur-ya so far, huh. Sheezus, apparently even women have some work to do still … who would have imagined.
SPOT ON!! This is exactly my thought. Are they thinking women should step aside, so they can succeed, while not proving themselves? They never did! Women, like people of color, have had to work 10 times as hard, to get ahead! From all the different jobs I’ve had, what I’ve seen is women are doing the work, not getting any atta girls to keep going. They just keep going!
Oh, boo hoo. It's still a patriarchal system. Stop telling boys and young men they need to be #1 choice for every opportunity, especially white males, and they'd have less to gripe about. Seriously, that fragile male ego needs to toughen up.
I rather people like David Hogg be involved in the DNC and local parties than become nonvoters or get sucked into MAGA. Because right now, the way the DNC is managed by the old guard is alienating core voters and doing little other than performative gestures for everyone else.
You’re spot on about this. I think that a return to the Democratic roots of the New Deal and a concerted effort to reverse the party’s abandonment of labor and skilled trades would go a long way toward bringing men back into the left. Because the gutting of the labor movement is the real cause of men’s disempowerment. Men who feel they have many prospects for success don’t turn to extremism and the right has been really great at diverting their attention from economic injustice and putting the blame on women, immigrants, anyone but the system that is actually exploiting them. Swatting down young leaders like David Hogg is a HUGE mistake. Representation matters and young men need to see other young men ascending in the party and speaking truth to power instead of being kicked out by the likes of Schumer/Pelosi. Hogg has earned his place and excluding him sends a VERY clear message to young men that they aren’t welcome in the DNC.
When talking about Men, we should be mindful this isn’t the typical stereotypical white guy that is having trouble. It also includes non-White men who are already having challenges due to other factors on top of just happening to identifying or being male in some way, shape, or form. Being inclusive means including others in the cause but also ensuring your core is also invested and involved without undermining others.
Yep I preferred Bernie (he was my Senator and a great guy) and strongly disliked Hillary though I held my nose and voted for her anyway. She is the embodiment of the patronizing elitism that has turned so many people away from the Democratic party. Of course she was “qualified”. But she was condescending and dismissive of the very real problems of most Americans.
The main problem is the DNC is populated with old people. The leaders in the house &‘ senate are as old as I am. Both parties are full of old people. We need representatives that are young & have new ideas.
Affording housing, health care, transportation to s job is a real problem. All I see addressed by both parties is small increases in the minimum wage & we pay higher taxes. My property taxes go up yearly, my income tax goes up as a small increases in the in pension & Social Security gets a hit.
Mean time the Uber rich world wide pay little or nothing.
Schools have removed so much hands on training over the years. Shop & Home economics have been removed from schools, it was easier then blending who attended classes. So basic training in skills like cooking, wood working, Plumbing are gone. Working on cars are gone. Now you need to go to a tech school to earn a trade. Bug you need a student loan !💸
The immigration problem is increased by employers looking gif cheep skilled labor to build housing etc.
Good morning. I'm afraid it might be a little bit more complex than that. The fact that the highest rungs have male feet all over them is not comforting to the men at the bottom. Or women for that matter. Can we hold two ideas at the same time - to be passionate about women's rights while being compassionate towards vulnerable boys and men? (Richard Reeves). Just a thought.
Yes, I was inspired by Richard Reeves to write this piece. When social media activists think of men, they usually think about the stereotypical white male yuppie living it up in New York City. When in reality, Men are of various ethnicities from small towns, suburbs, or the older parts of the cities, with various kinds of work and mixed achievements. Being an empowered woman does not mean one should be entitled and believe that others must be torn down or undermined for their collective growth and success. This needs to stop, or it will further fuel the right-wing backlash and apathy that led Trump back into office and nearly led to a right-wing government in Canada.
🤣🤣🤣 keep enjoying the presidential campaign losses and keep working instead on your lack of reading comprehension oh bitter one. But, meanwhile bring at least the receipt that shows where the suggestion in this article says to prioritize men over women. C’mon, BRING IT. Show us. Where does it say that, huh? Quote the line.
Something we should not resign ourselves to … I just don’t like the idea that by perpetuating some form of imbalance into perpetuity there must always be an imbalance as fodder to be feuding over and distracted by. I’d like to see our energies directed at the root causes of toxic capitalism and the inequalities it breeds. #EatTheRich
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 my thoughts exactly. I read that piece in disbelief. I can only hope it was written by a male and that it’s a male so young, he didn’t live through the, often violent, attitude of men and why women had to fight so hard. My Mother couldn’t legally have a checking account UNTIL 1974. I’ll say it again. 1974! She couldn’t be on the Deed of their house. Their car registration - women weren’t allowed to be on it. I could go on and on. I have a huge family. I have 69 1st cousins (including spouses), another 50+ 2nd cousins and so on. The age range is 7-74 yrs old. 62% are males (it’s a competition. We keep track). So we cover every generation from the Forgotten Age down to whatever title they’ve given my 7 yr old cousin’s generation. Every one of those 62% males would laugh at this opinion piece. Not one of them have questions about who they are and every one of them walk with confidence and pride. And all of them champion the strong women in our family.
Is this real?? So they elect a convicted felon? Last time I checked women had real problems too. Our rights are being stripped away in real time. To say they’re having struggles so they’re leaving the democrats is ridiculous to me. So it was better to believe the lies that were told? I don’t get it.
Yes minority men, trans men and poor men are having problems and don't always feel included by the DNC elites. Not everyone is a rich White guy like Trump
Ahhh yet another reading comprehension challenged comment. Magats didn’t elect DJT. In fact, Magats were less than one third of the eligible voters who voted. But hey, you keep saying misguided and misinformed nonsense like “So they elected …”. Who is the “they” you are referring to? The article is suggesting that a winning strategy for the DNC MIGHT be to include EVERYONE inside their tent and that just MAYBE counter the dark-side’s lies as more attractive. But your bitterness obviously clouds your reading glasses. It’s not about penises versus vaginas … it’s about winning elections so we can finally have some nice things and not just weapons. It’s about pulling TOGETHER instead of being distracted by in fighting. I’m voting for AOC in 2028 by the way. Already decided. But, I fear a large segment of the voting block will once again be lost to these bitter internal battles and yet again some corporate backed, pasty white old fook will once again win the day.
MAGA isn't anything new. The US has been this way since the founding. For the past 50 years, we had a taste of how life "could be" and we've seen the rise of women and minorities making tremendous economic strides. Most people can handle it, but the bottom line is that obscenely rich people don't want to pay taxes and they want all of the money, so they're going to do whatever they have to to hold onto power, destroy social safety nets & push regressive tax cuts. Period. The media, especially social media, rigs algorithms in favor of MAGA. It's literally why the richest man in the world bought Twitter and started platforming Nazis again. The message is that THOSE women, THOSE Black people, THOSE immigrants stole your birthright.
Blaming Democrats for this is like blaming a woman for deserving a beating because dinner was late because she worked overtime to bring in more money because her husband got laid off and now she's acting like she's "better" than him.
I do not see how, after the way that the Republicans ran a campaign using trans men and women having rights as the big, bad boogeyman to scare the cis-heterosexual average voter, that the Democrats could possibly be considered less welcoming and inclusive. It is difficult to understand why a trans person would choose to vote for the party that literally used them just existing to scare people.
And from too many middle-of-the-road politically folks I hear that maybe so many people would not have voted for Trump if the left didn’t “push” trans people on everyone (literally a conversation I had with someone recently). I’m having trouble understanding how non white men and trans people felt that the Republicans were going to accept them and be more inclusive of them after all their actions so overtly show otherwise
It seriously boggles my mind that one would vote for the party that openly dislikes you and wants to take away your rights because you feel like the other party doesn’t take you seriously. I’m not excusing DNC leadership for their being out of touch, but really, how did these young disenfranchised men think this was going to work out better for them? It’s better to vote for a party that wants to take away your rights because they present a more cohesive message? The older Dems are kind of hopeless but the younger, more progressive Democrats aren’t. All I see in the Republican Party across all age groups, is a lot of hate. If you feel so disenfranchised that you willingly vote for a party that historically openly disdains your existence, then you are voting against your own best interests, and it’s getting really old seeing people shooting themselves in the foot this way.
Yes but that's what happened in the last election. Enough men either didn't vote or settled for Trump again because they felt their concerns weren't addressed. The article also cites Democrat governors trying to address the issue
Well I definitely agree the Dems need to get their act together and let the younger generation start to lead. Schumer is a prime example of what is wrong with the party.
Hopefully they will address the issues in light of the current loss to the felon
You touch on it right there. It isn’t women vs men, or old vs young, or poc vs whitie, IT THE RICH vs ALL OF US …. the fooking oligarchs want us all distracted and fighting these separate issues precisely because it dilutes the force that our uniting TOGETHER would end their rein of terror. WAKE THE FOOK UP We-The-People and #EatTheRich !!!
That's exactly what I mean. On the left, we will spend time trying to understand, study and chart a rational path forward - but that isn't what we're playing against. We're up against propaganda and cult-like brainwashing backed with serious money. We need to hold onto our truths, hold on to one another and when the young men decide they are all grown up and show grown up contrition, then we talk.
Until then, starve the beast of your money and attention. Don't buy your stuff from Amazon unless you must, don't click on the NYT or WaPo links. Buy food directly from a farmer, shop at co-ops, buy second-hand things. Fix your shit and donate what you don't need. Be friends with people who deserve you and even dial back on how often you see family if they're dodo brains.
As someone who has been the beneficiary of decades upon decades rooted un6 centuries of systemic bias and privilege, it is not yet even close to time to stop trying to (a) teach that history, (b) correct where it still exists, because it does still exist, and then (c) fight to ensure it does not gain a foothold upon which to grow again, regression which we can see is happening now.
The best time to have started this was yesterday. I have tried and contine to do so. For others who have not yet, the next best time is today.
So, while I understand some of the negative reactions, I guess my question would be, what's the alternative, active solution? You want men and boys to do something different, but what is the mechanism to getting there?
It is possible--probable?--that culture and technology have accelerated in ways that exceed our ability to psychologically adapt. Though I know this is an oversimplification, men had centuries, millenia, in which their physical attributes were critical to survival, in which overcoming obstacles on behalf of their families, tribes, and societies was a concrete measurable of success. Now the men who are closest to those types of experiences in their jobs are at the bottom of the totem pole. So I do think there is a sort of existential crisis here. It is not license for misbehavior, but it does need to be addressed to get to something better than wagging fingers, unless we think the current moment will pass on its own.
Old white dudes grew up to understand that each should be John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and the Marlboro man. Google what was on TV in their youth. Then THINK about the environment of that era. And women were portrayed as their conquests. Not blaming media for everything just saying that media is controlled by the oligarchs and they steer the capitalist profits in any and every way they can regardless of any negative influences and short or long term outcomes those profits might cost us ALL.
State governments and mental health professionals are still figuring that out. That said doing nothing makes them more susceptible to incel or MAGA politics
I didn’t but lots of young American guys voted for Trump in the last election because they felt alienated by the DNC or worse they just did not vote at all.
I’m not defending the Democrats current leadership. My point is that if you’re fleeing TO the republicans “because of leadership” then you’re full of shit. Their values and bigotry appeal to your fragility so why not just admit it. If your response is “you’re stupid” then I’m completely unsurprised and validated.
I agree that the left is losing ground with some men. Maybe Barron Trump’s involvement in his father’s campaign in 2024 gave a boost to this process. But anti-women political trends and increased frequency of urging for “trad wives” and keeping women in the kitchen doesn’t endear women to the right. Nor have the ravages of rigid anti-abortion laws with no exceptions for rape, incest and vague wording on “risk to the life of the mother” to say nothing of future fertility and loss of other bodily functions. Women are dying because of these laws. Women have plenty to be worked up over. Hopefully if men are aware how much this matters to them, they’ll be more concerned about seeking change to help both men and women. They’re HUMAN rights after all!
Trans people are vulnerable in the US with this current administration. It grieves me greatly to see the marginalization & targeting with hateful rhetoric.
Leave the politics aside. Why are young men socially so fraught? Because women are becoming increasingly equal (not better) that they compete on an equal basis not only with other men , but women, other persons not white. All equal. No preference. Not sure why this causes angst. It wasn’t how as a woman I was treated when I wanted to be independent, not did I expect it. I had to fight for it. Why are young males exempt?
PS hiring women not men in fast food while going to school (e.g. Subway) this applies to you too.
A LOT of Magats are OLD, not young men. I think finding causes and solutions to shutting off the flow of younger ones to similar destinations / outcomes is a worthwhile cause.
OFFS. I got as far as your subhead and gave it up for ridiculous. Are you seriously arguing that it’s the Democrats’ fault that young white men are lazy, way overentitled, or both? That they’re turning into incels and MAGAts because life is hard?
Yes. It’s hard to go to college. It’s hard to learn to think for yourself and to stay reasonably well-informed. It’s hard to stay determined to be a good person, and an honest and fair person, when the world is as chaotic as it is. But plenty of people do it, every day, all the time.
The real question, to me, is why did, why does, an entire generational cohort think it’s OK to just give up and pout and go willingly into the clutches of everyone who appeals to their worst impulses. And the only answer I’ve got is, because it’s easy. And fuck ‘em for taking the easy road, for not taking any responsibility for themselves or their society.
How the Democrats are supposed to counter-message, convincing men they have to work for good things in their lives rather than just spout hate and grievance? from what I’ve seen, no one has any idea. Except let them FAFO.
And the 36% of all eligible voters who didn’t bother to vote. More than one third of all eligible voters, regardless of demographic, didn’t bother to vote. I haven’t checked this, but I’m pretty sure that the majority of the population held by females is less than 36%. Probably much less. As I understand it, voting is mandatory in Australia, maybe we should emulate them.
Honestly, in a system that has been geared toward men and boys for centuries, somehow women managed to overcome the roadblocks and take advantage of the opportunities given to them. Despite being unwelcome in previously male-dominated spaces, despite the sexual harassment, despite the hostile working and education environments, despite the clear favoritism toward men for promotions and pay scale, women have forged ahead anyway, breaking down barriers and making incremental progress toward equity.
So who are we talking about, really? Are these working class boys who have always eschewed education as something only white people and “pussies” do, or are we talking about a shift among boys’ attitudes in families that have always placed a high priority on education? If the former, then that’s going to be a tough nut to crack, given cultural conditions that create these attitudes in the first place. Manly man jobs in factories and auto plants haven’t been a thing in this country for decades, ever since we outsourced most manufacturing to other countries that pay their workers peanuts. So what world do you live in that makes you think those jobs are coming back? Might that mean getting an education instead?
If the latter, then here’s my advice: get some therapy. Find out why competing with women for status and jobs irks you so much. Find out why you believe the world owes you something you haven’t earned. Find out why you have consistently been OK with women earning less than you when the chances are she probably outperforms you. Find out why you still believe you have to be a “provider” instead of a partner. The world is changing. It always has. But now men are expected to change with it, and they’re throwing a hissy fit.
Not all men are white, upper-income, cisgendered, and living it up in the cities. A good number of men are from marginalized communities or situations who happen to identify as males in some way shape or form. Please think twice before dismissing all men as having privileges while also considering challenges women and other marginalized communities have had to overcome in white supremacist male-dominated domains.
Did I mention white men at all? I split this between those who value education and those who don’t.
It's so irritating the way when women have a 'problem' it takes decades or centuries to become newsworthy, men have a problem - quick, we must deal with it. Look at breast cancer for example, when it was only women getting it progress was sooo slow. A few men get it and suddenly millions are poured into research, they get checked out at the drop of a hat... When millions of women were addicted to prescription meds (mothers little helpers) it was overlooked or joked about, now men are "ooh, the tragedy"! Men need to grow up and accept they are responsible for themselves - when they decide to leave it's women left raising the kids, it's not our job to mollycoddle men as well!
Marginalized males are still a real problem despite politics being dominated by elite, privileged males that often happen to be straight white cis guys
Yes. I agree. How does this relate to my original comment about why men are not taking advantage of the opportunities afforded them, as women have?
They are not all allowed into the country club despite identifying or being men.
Oh, you mean like women? Kinda sucks, doesn’t it. We’ve been banging on the front door of the old boys’ network for millennia.
1) try “getting therapy”, it’s not actually readily available in America as you suggest (google it) 2) if you are convinced that women in America have succeeded in the positive ways you use to compare, then gee-whiz, go ahead and stop complaining about their repeated political losses at the presidential level. Apparently, “you’ve got this” on your own 3) stop asking how a 34 time convicted child molesting fascist pos managed to become elected over the more qualified woman of color and 4) maybe do a little brushing up on your own reading comprehension that allowed you to miss the point of this entire article so spectacularly as to need to ask the misinformed questions you just did. Yeah, you let your bitterness over the life long feminist battles keep providing the dark-side magats with ongoing support and votes, and victories despite this article’s suggestions on how to stop those losses … coz that’s a strategy that’s worked so well fur-ya so far, huh. Sheezus, apparently even women have some work to do still … who would have imagined.
SPOT ON!! This is exactly my thought. Are they thinking women should step aside, so they can succeed, while not proving themselves? They never did! Women, like people of color, have had to work 10 times as hard, to get ahead! From all the different jobs I’ve had, what I’ve seen is women are doing the work, not getting any atta girls to keep going. They just keep going!
Exactly
Oh, boo hoo. It's still a patriarchal system. Stop telling boys and young men they need to be #1 choice for every opportunity, especially white males, and they'd have less to gripe about. Seriously, that fragile male ego needs to toughen up.
I rather people like David Hogg be involved in the DNC and local parties than become nonvoters or get sucked into MAGA. Because right now, the way the DNC is managed by the old guard is alienating core voters and doing little other than performative gestures for everyone else.
You’re spot on about this. I think that a return to the Democratic roots of the New Deal and a concerted effort to reverse the party’s abandonment of labor and skilled trades would go a long way toward bringing men back into the left. Because the gutting of the labor movement is the real cause of men’s disempowerment. Men who feel they have many prospects for success don’t turn to extremism and the right has been really great at diverting their attention from economic injustice and putting the blame on women, immigrants, anyone but the system that is actually exploiting them. Swatting down young leaders like David Hogg is a HUGE mistake. Representation matters and young men need to see other young men ascending in the party and speaking truth to power instead of being kicked out by the likes of Schumer/Pelosi. Hogg has earned his place and excluding him sends a VERY clear message to young men that they aren’t welcome in the DNC.
When talking about Men, we should be mindful this isn’t the typical stereotypical white guy that is having trouble. It also includes non-White men who are already having challenges due to other factors on top of just happening to identifying or being male in some way, shape, or form. Being inclusive means including others in the cause but also ensuring your core is also invested and involved without undermining others.
Exactly.
This also happened back in 2016 when some people were leaning towards Bernie Sanders because they did not trust Hillary Clinton.
Yep I preferred Bernie (he was my Senator and a great guy) and strongly disliked Hillary though I held my nose and voted for her anyway. She is the embodiment of the patronizing elitism that has turned so many people away from the Democratic party. Of course she was “qualified”. But she was condescending and dismissive of the very real problems of most Americans.
THIS👆🏼
The main problem is the DNC is populated with old people. The leaders in the house &‘ senate are as old as I am. Both parties are full of old people. We need representatives that are young & have new ideas.
Affording housing, health care, transportation to s job is a real problem. All I see addressed by both parties is small increases in the minimum wage & we pay higher taxes. My property taxes go up yearly, my income tax goes up as a small increases in the in pension & Social Security gets a hit.
Mean time the Uber rich world wide pay little or nothing.
Schools have removed so much hands on training over the years. Shop & Home economics have been removed from schools, it was easier then blending who attended classes. So basic training in skills like cooking, wood working, Plumbing are gone. Working on cars are gone. Now you need to go to a tech school to earn a trade. Bug you need a student loan !💸
The immigration problem is increased by employers looking gif cheep skilled labor to build housing etc.
This is all true
Righttttt! Instead the old sentiment if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, well it’s broke and we need new blood. Good job David! Shake it up!!
Good morning. I'm afraid it might be a little bit more complex than that. The fact that the highest rungs have male feet all over them is not comforting to the men at the bottom. Or women for that matter. Can we hold two ideas at the same time - to be passionate about women's rights while being compassionate towards vulnerable boys and men? (Richard Reeves). Just a thought.
Yes, I was inspired by Richard Reeves to write this piece. When social media activists think of men, they usually think about the stereotypical white male yuppie living it up in New York City. When in reality, Men are of various ethnicities from small towns, suburbs, or the older parts of the cities, with various kinds of work and mixed achievements. Being an empowered woman does not mean one should be entitled and believe that others must be torn down or undermined for their collective growth and success. This needs to stop, or it will further fuel the right-wing backlash and apathy that led Trump back into office and nearly led to a right-wing government in Canada.
🤣🤣🤣 keep enjoying the presidential campaign losses and keep working instead on your lack of reading comprehension oh bitter one. But, meanwhile bring at least the receipt that shows where the suggestion in this article says to prioritize men over women. C’mon, BRING IT. Show us. Where does it say that, huh? Quote the line.
Men have and are always prioritized over women. That's the whole basis of patriarchy. 🙄
Something we should not resign ourselves to … I just don’t like the idea that by perpetuating some form of imbalance into perpetuity there must always be an imbalance as fodder to be feuding over and distracted by. I’d like to see our energies directed at the root causes of toxic capitalism and the inequalities it breeds. #EatTheRich
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 my thoughts exactly. I read that piece in disbelief. I can only hope it was written by a male and that it’s a male so young, he didn’t live through the, often violent, attitude of men and why women had to fight so hard. My Mother couldn’t legally have a checking account UNTIL 1974. I’ll say it again. 1974! She couldn’t be on the Deed of their house. Their car registration - women weren’t allowed to be on it. I could go on and on. I have a huge family. I have 69 1st cousins (including spouses), another 50+ 2nd cousins and so on. The age range is 7-74 yrs old. 62% are males (it’s a competition. We keep track). So we cover every generation from the Forgotten Age down to whatever title they’ve given my 7 yr old cousin’s generation. Every one of those 62% males would laugh at this opinion piece. Not one of them have questions about who they are and every one of them walk with confidence and pride. And all of them champion the strong women in our family.
I get it. I am in my 70's and lived thru those restrictIons. Never again.
Exactly
Is this real?? So they elect a convicted felon? Last time I checked women had real problems too. Our rights are being stripped away in real time. To say they’re having struggles so they’re leaving the democrats is ridiculous to me. So it was better to believe the lies that were told? I don’t get it.
Yes minority men, trans men and poor men are having problems and don't always feel included by the DNC elites. Not everyone is a rich White guy like Trump
Trans and minority men have special circumstances for sure. They are targeted.
They have it quite has as women or worse in certain cases
Ahhh yet another reading comprehension challenged comment. Magats didn’t elect DJT. In fact, Magats were less than one third of the eligible voters who voted. But hey, you keep saying misguided and misinformed nonsense like “So they elected …”. Who is the “they” you are referring to? The article is suggesting that a winning strategy for the DNC MIGHT be to include EVERYONE inside their tent and that just MAYBE counter the dark-side’s lies as more attractive. But your bitterness obviously clouds your reading glasses. It’s not about penises versus vaginas … it’s about winning elections so we can finally have some nice things and not just weapons. It’s about pulling TOGETHER instead of being distracted by in fighting. I’m voting for AOC in 2028 by the way. Already decided. But, I fear a large segment of the voting block will once again be lost to these bitter internal battles and yet again some corporate backed, pasty white old fook will once again win the day.
You are entitled to your opinion. I am too. No need to insult my reading comprehension. I’m not an idiot because my view is different than yours.
MAGA isn't anything new. The US has been this way since the founding. For the past 50 years, we had a taste of how life "could be" and we've seen the rise of women and minorities making tremendous economic strides. Most people can handle it, but the bottom line is that obscenely rich people don't want to pay taxes and they want all of the money, so they're going to do whatever they have to to hold onto power, destroy social safety nets & push regressive tax cuts. Period. The media, especially social media, rigs algorithms in favor of MAGA. It's literally why the richest man in the world bought Twitter and started platforming Nazis again. The message is that THOSE women, THOSE Black people, THOSE immigrants stole your birthright.
Blaming Democrats for this is like blaming a woman for deserving a beating because dinner was late because she worked overtime to bring in more money because her husband got laid off and now she's acting like she's "better" than him.
Ethnic minorities and trans people also have men. If they don't feel included by the DNC they'll either not vote or get baited to the GOP
I do not see how, after the way that the Republicans ran a campaign using trans men and women having rights as the big, bad boogeyman to scare the cis-heterosexual average voter, that the Democrats could possibly be considered less welcoming and inclusive. It is difficult to understand why a trans person would choose to vote for the party that literally used them just existing to scare people.
And from too many middle-of-the-road politically folks I hear that maybe so many people would not have voted for Trump if the left didn’t “push” trans people on everyone (literally a conversation I had with someone recently). I’m having trouble understanding how non white men and trans people felt that the Republicans were going to accept them and be more inclusive of them after all their actions so overtly show otherwise
Because they're not being taken seriously by the old guard leadership. The infighting right now in the DNC is another example of this
It seriously boggles my mind that one would vote for the party that openly dislikes you and wants to take away your rights because you feel like the other party doesn’t take you seriously. I’m not excusing DNC leadership for their being out of touch, but really, how did these young disenfranchised men think this was going to work out better for them? It’s better to vote for a party that wants to take away your rights because they present a more cohesive message? The older Dems are kind of hopeless but the younger, more progressive Democrats aren’t. All I see in the Republican Party across all age groups, is a lot of hate. If you feel so disenfranchised that you willingly vote for a party that historically openly disdains your existence, then you are voting against your own best interests, and it’s getting really old seeing people shooting themselves in the foot this way.
Yes but that's what happened in the last election. Enough men either didn't vote or settled for Trump again because they felt their concerns weren't addressed. The article also cites Democrat governors trying to address the issue
Well I definitely agree the Dems need to get their act together and let the younger generation start to lead. Schumer is a prime example of what is wrong with the party.
Hopefully they will address the issues in light of the current loss to the felon
You touch on it right there. It isn’t women vs men, or old vs young, or poc vs whitie, IT THE RICH vs ALL OF US …. the fooking oligarchs want us all distracted and fighting these separate issues precisely because it dilutes the force that our uniting TOGETHER would end their rein of terror. WAKE THE FOOK UP We-The-People and #EatTheRich !!!
That's exactly what I mean. On the left, we will spend time trying to understand, study and chart a rational path forward - but that isn't what we're playing against. We're up against propaganda and cult-like brainwashing backed with serious money. We need to hold onto our truths, hold on to one another and when the young men decide they are all grown up and show grown up contrition, then we talk.
Until then, starve the beast of your money and attention. Don't buy your stuff from Amazon unless you must, don't click on the NYT or WaPo links. Buy food directly from a farmer, shop at co-ops, buy second-hand things. Fix your shit and donate what you don't need. Be friends with people who deserve you and even dial back on how often you see family if they're dodo brains.
Exactly
As someone who has been the beneficiary of decades upon decades rooted un6 centuries of systemic bias and privilege, it is not yet even close to time to stop trying to (a) teach that history, (b) correct where it still exists, because it does still exist, and then (c) fight to ensure it does not gain a foothold upon which to grow again, regression which we can see is happening now.
The best time to have started this was yesterday. I have tried and contine to do so. For others who have not yet, the next best time is today.
Chose to be agents to help make progress.
So, while I understand some of the negative reactions, I guess my question would be, what's the alternative, active solution? You want men and boys to do something different, but what is the mechanism to getting there?
It is possible--probable?--that culture and technology have accelerated in ways that exceed our ability to psychologically adapt. Though I know this is an oversimplification, men had centuries, millenia, in which their physical attributes were critical to survival, in which overcoming obstacles on behalf of their families, tribes, and societies was a concrete measurable of success. Now the men who are closest to those types of experiences in their jobs are at the bottom of the totem pole. So I do think there is a sort of existential crisis here. It is not license for misbehavior, but it does need to be addressed to get to something better than wagging fingers, unless we think the current moment will pass on its own.
Old white dudes grew up to understand that each should be John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and the Marlboro man. Google what was on TV in their youth. Then THINK about the environment of that era. And women were portrayed as their conquests. Not blaming media for everything just saying that media is controlled by the oligarchs and they steer the capitalist profits in any and every way they can regardless of any negative influences and short or long term outcomes those profits might cost us ALL.
State governments and mental health professionals are still figuring that out. That said doing nothing makes them more susceptible to incel or MAGA politics
Sounds like a crock to me. I’m leaving the Democratic Party because there is no leadership.
No leadership and ongoing alienation to various communities, including men.
Leaving for where…. Are you going to the republicans because of their “leadership”? Nobody can possibly make that argument with a straight face.
I didn’t but lots of young American guys voted for Trump in the last election because they felt alienated by the DNC or worse they just did not vote at all.
I notice that the reply you received was the usual, "yr too stupid to understand " response.
Smart remarks are usually stupid and this one is no exception.
I’m not defending the Democrats current leadership. My point is that if you’re fleeing TO the republicans “because of leadership” then you’re full of shit. Their values and bigotry appeal to your fragility so why not just admit it. If your response is “you’re stupid” then I’m completely unsurprised and validated.
You need to use your brain at least a
Little bit
enjoy your next presidential campaign losses while you wallow in your righteousness.
I agree that the left is losing ground with some men. Maybe Barron Trump’s involvement in his father’s campaign in 2024 gave a boost to this process. But anti-women political trends and increased frequency of urging for “trad wives” and keeping women in the kitchen doesn’t endear women to the right. Nor have the ravages of rigid anti-abortion laws with no exceptions for rape, incest and vague wording on “risk to the life of the mother” to say nothing of future fertility and loss of other bodily functions. Women are dying because of these laws. Women have plenty to be worked up over. Hopefully if men are aware how much this matters to them, they’ll be more concerned about seeking change to help both men and women. They’re HUMAN rights after all!
Yes those are valid points and please also consider trans men when thinking about these issues. They are also men with their share of challenges.
Yes, trans men need to be considered a too! Certainly their concerns and challenges need recognition & attention.
Especially if they are not helped by progressives
Trans people are vulnerable in the US with this current administration. It grieves me greatly to see the marginalization & targeting with hateful rhetoric.
Absolutely. Trans men are definitely needing to be listened to, respected and considered!
Thanks for your consideration.
FWIW: The Party That Cannot Tell You What A Woman is, Mad Men Will Not Vote For Them.https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/the-party-that-cannot-tell-you-what
Apologies for those who got a newsletter twice for this piece. Apparently something went wrong with substack. Sorry all.
Leave the politics aside. Why are young men socially so fraught? Because women are becoming increasingly equal (not better) that they compete on an equal basis not only with other men , but women, other persons not white. All equal. No preference. Not sure why this causes angst. It wasn’t how as a woman I was treated when I wanted to be independent, not did I expect it. I had to fight for it. Why are young males exempt?
PS hiring women not men in fast food while going to school (e.g. Subway) this applies to you too.
A LOT of Magats are OLD, not young men. I think finding causes and solutions to shutting off the flow of younger ones to similar destinations / outcomes is a worthwhile cause.
OFFS. I got as far as your subhead and gave it up for ridiculous. Are you seriously arguing that it’s the Democrats’ fault that young white men are lazy, way overentitled, or both? That they’re turning into incels and MAGAts because life is hard?
Yes. It’s hard to go to college. It’s hard to learn to think for yourself and to stay reasonably well-informed. It’s hard to stay determined to be a good person, and an honest and fair person, when the world is as chaotic as it is. But plenty of people do it, every day, all the time.
The real question, to me, is why did, why does, an entire generational cohort think it’s OK to just give up and pout and go willingly into the clutches of everyone who appeals to their worst impulses. And the only answer I’ve got is, because it’s easy. And fuck ‘em for taking the easy road, for not taking any responsibility for themselves or their society.
How the Democrats are supposed to counter-message, convincing men they have to work for good things in their lives rather than just spout hate and grievance? from what I’ve seen, no one has any idea. Except let them FAFO.
Thanks for not reading before ranting. Democrat governors recognize it's an issue. Why can't you?
Meh, you’re right. I should know better than to respond to clickbait.
or maybe just try READING. Magats are infamous for being averse to reading. Maybe you’re a wanna-be magat. READS like it.
🔥☄️
Honestly I’m tired of white men victimhood and the never ending excuses for it!
Ok, but are you also tired of losing elections?
I guess not which is good news for Trump and maga.
Actually the majority of the population is female, we just need to get white women to wake up!
Karens, entitled White women, are a problem and need to be educated on how to be actual allies
And the 36% of all eligible voters who didn’t bother to vote. More than one third of all eligible voters, regardless of demographic, didn’t bother to vote. I haven’t checked this, but I’m pretty sure that the majority of the population held by females is less than 36%. Probably much less. As I understand it, voting is mandatory in Australia, maybe we should emulate them.