The Men — and Boys — Are Not Alright
About this episode
The conversation asks why boys and men are falling behind and what should be done. Reeves, a Brookings fellow and author of Of Boys and Men, argues the crisis spans education, work, health and relationships: boys mature later than girls, schools reward organization and coursework completion, the college gender gap has reversed since the 1970s, and boys suffer more from poverty and family instability. Men account for most deaths of despair, died of Covid at higher rates, face a friendship recession, and anchor identity in occupation and breadwinning. Reeves proposes starting boys a year later in school, expanding vocational pathways, and a HEAL (health, education, administration, literacy) initiative drawing men into caring professions. He contends mainstream culture has ceded masculinity to Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate, and that liberals must offer models of manhood. Klein presses whether this diverts attention from girls and whether individuals or structures are to blame.