There is a real political opportunity right now for a party to craft an agenda that speaks to men — and addresses their real problems.
Contrary to progressive belief, young men are not turning into a generation of misogynists. Support for gender equality continues to rise, including among men under 30. The problem seems more to be that many men simply don’t see much recognition of their issues, or even of their identity, on the political left.
If the Democrats are the “women’s party,” as one party strategist claimed, it might not be surprising that men are looking in another direction. The official party platform lists the groups it is proud to serve; women are listed but men are not. There is a new Gender Policy Council in the White House, but it has not addressed a single issue facing boys or men.
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.
Any man not willing to stand for the women in his life is worthless. That’s it. End of message.
You know, it’d be real nice, if the first comment on a posted article about how men are being pigeonholed and stereotyped into Raging Right Wing Misogynist Dipshits™️despite the fact that most younger men are in fact far more progressive than older men… wasn’t pigeonholing men into raging misogynists.
Are you wrong? not really. But that doesn’t make this the place to share that particular “message.” Actually. it kind of makes it the dumbest place to share it.
which, point of fact, is exactly what this article is talking about.
some highlights from the article:
It goes on to talk about specific issues affecting men. it’s a very good read. You should read it.
(Edit, tidied the quote for formatting.)
I did read it.
Two mental health bills are currently stalled in Congress.
Guess which party is holding them up and which party sponsored them?
So you read it and still felt like bitching about men not supporting women?
(naw. I don’t really believe you. Also, what has two stalled bills that don’t really address the issues being faced? oh. by the way. the article mentions more bills that do. Details.)
Can you flip this statement around and agree with it, as unconditionally as you have just stated it?
This is not the issue. Men can stand for the women in their life, no problem. The question is who is standing for them.
We all have a responsibility to each other, regardless of gender.