The Institute for Family Studies recently had YouGov conduct a poll of 2000 American men aged 18-29. In the introduction, the authors note the crisis among young men is gaining more attention. The troubling trends in this crisis include: “Fewer young men go to college and fewer of them come away with a degree. Just 41% of degrees are awarded to men. Young men have higher rates of conditions such as ADHD and autism and have more problems with drugs, gambling, pornography and the law. Young men today have lower earnings and career prospects compared to earlier cohorts. They have fewer friends, socialize less, and are less civically engaged. Fewer are making a timely transition to adulthood by meeting such milestones as having a full-time job, being financially independent, living away from their parents’ home, and getting married and having children.”
The report noted “not indifference or lack of worthy aspirations that stood out, but rather “the trying circumstances facing today’s young men” They viewed it as “demoralization.” “Their ambiguous and socially marginal position is taking a heavy toll on them. Young men are not where they want to be, often feel trapped, and are unsure of what to do. At least in the near term, they are not optimistic that things will get much better.”
The survey is intended to look at what the trends mean. It surveys three common explanations. First, structural changes. “The struggles of young men are symptoms of wider economic and educational alterations, such as the off shoring of manufacturing and unfavorable school policies that have weakened the opportunity structure for men.”
Second, men being idle. “Caught up in self-indulgence, a substantial number of young men have become resigned to idleness…….Their failings reflect passivity, lack of ambition, poor work ethic, and a ‘purpose void.'”
Third, failed socialization. “Brought up under the old, rigid masculinity norms, young men have not learned emotional openness or how it express vulnerability….[they] increasingly come under the sway of the ‘toxic masculinity’ promoted in the online manosphere.”
The survey wanted to hear what young men had to say. What does it mean to come of age? What do they think of masculinity? What about going to college? What are their goals and hopes?
The survey in its first part was summarized with three major finds. First, “the defining standards of adulthood have continued to change for young men. Traditional benchmarks like marriage and parenthood have moved to the bottom of the list. But, “The feeling of having reached full adulthood is, paradoxically, highly correlated with the old benchmarks: being married and a parent, working full time, and completing college or trade school.”
Second, Young men are having a hard time in matter of love. “Despite obstacles ranging from job instability to doubts about the availability of suitable partners, most men who are not in a relationship are open to dating (74%). Young men are hesitant to ask women for dates. They struggle to overcome “approach anxiety.”
Third, “young men view college with a great deal of ambivalence.” “Young men who have not gone to college or dropped out before graduating are the most skeptical of its value.” Aaron Renn notes the shift from “working full time” to “being financially independent.” He states, “My impression is that Gen Z people, both male and female, do not like the idea of a traditional 9-5 job.”
This very creditable survey helps me as an “old timer” to be aware of these four factors. 1) “The times they are changing.” 2) Try to walk more in the shoes of younger men’ 3) Live unapologically in my sense of “manliness.” 4) Above all, be in constant prayer with the desire of being an “exemplar.”
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