Let’s Talk About Guys (#1)
Are there any boys or men in your life that you love? A Dad? Uncle? Grandfather? Brother? Son? Nephew? Husband? Friend?
Over the last decade or so, the subject of guys has been ignored at best, at worst become taboo. I hear some people talk about masculinity like it’s a dirty word.
There’s a saying “We All Do Better When We ALL do Better.” Women and girls are doing better (finally and there’s still a long way to go.) But men and boys have been falling - at school, at work, in society. Many feel purposeless. Many of them are struggling severely — substance misuse disorder, with male deaths by poisoning up 50% since 2001); Suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10-14 and 25-34 in the United States, and the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-24, and men comprise about 80% of all suicide deaths. [Source: CDC]
Talking about guys shouldn’t be radical. There are our Dad, Uncles, Grandfathers, Brothers, Sons, Nephews, Husbands, and Friends we’re talking about. Their livelihood impacts everyone.
Men are rooting for women and girls and have been on their side, helping to even the playing field. It’s time we root for them, too. When we all do better, we All do better. It’s not a zero sum game.
Watch this eye-opening video about the state of boys and men explained by Richard V. Reeves, Brooking Institution Fellow, founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men, and author of Of Boys and Men.
