Young Men: Crisis

I wrote Motivate Your Son in 2012.  I saw…. something… I did not want to sound alarmist but I was observing what I thought was a macro crisis: boys were floundering.

My boy student-clients, mostly from the leafy suburbs of Madison and Guilford, at the time, were not thriving.

I wondered how this would play out in the future.

The crisis affecting young men today is increasingly gaining public attention. Yet, despite growing awareness, the situation seems to be escalating rather than improving. The Scope of the Crisis

Statistically, young men are falling behind in various sectors. Educational underachievement, high unemployment rates, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety are rising more sharply among young men than their female counterparts.

The numbers indicate a multi-faceted problem that goes beyond the economic and enters the realm of social and psychological well-being. If left unaddressed, this crisis has the potential to result in significant long-term damage, both to the affected individuals and society at large.

Underlying Causes

Factors contributing to the crisis range from changes in the economy that disadvantage less-educated workers to shifts in social norms and expectations. There’s also a documented rise in video game addiction and online extremism among young men.

The crisis is complicated and cannot be attributed to a single cause. An intersectional approach, looking at economic, social, and individual factors, is crucial for understanding the full scope of the problem.

Implications

Failure to address this crisis not only threatens the well-being of young men but also has broader societal implications. High levels of unemployment and disengagement can lead to increased crime rates and social instability. Given that young men constitute a significant portion of the population, their disengagement is not merely an individual tragedy but a societal issue that needs urgent intervention.

Potential Interventions

Career and Education Counseling

Providing targeted career and educational guidance can help young men navigate the complex landscapes of employment and education.