A father-son bikepacking trip in the Valles Caldera. Courtesy photo
BY JAMES WERNICKE
Los Alamos
Candidate for County Council
The newly proposed inclusivity task force will head to the Council for approval today. While reviewing the task force’s composition, I couldn’t help but notice it significantly underrepresents a significant portion of the population: men. It echoes a broader societal concern of disenfranchisement felt by many men today and the rise of movements like the Men’s Rights Movement (MRM), Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), involuntary celibates (incels), and hikikomori.
Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman poignantly illustrates the traditional gender roles of provider and protector. As women have gained greater opportunities, men often grapple with a diminished sense of purpose. Their roles are evolving, yet the support systems to help men navigate this transition seem scarce.
Today’s men are lonelier than ever. Fewer men have close friendships. Men tend to lack emotional intelligence and are often more emotionally dependent on their partners than women are economically dependent on theirs. This emotional disadvantage has contributed to significantly higher deaths of despair and opioid use among men. With nobody to turn to for help and a diminished sense of purpose, many men slide further into isolation and despair.
While we have made strides in creating fairer job opportunities for women, the educational system has lagged in creating equitable opportunities for boys. Boys underperform in nearly every aspect of education, are diagnosed with a developmental disability significantly more often, and are more likely to be perceived as disengaged from school than girls. One potential solution to address these disparities is the practice of redshirting, which involves allowing boys two years in pre-k to catch up developmentally with girls. Additionally, increasing the number of male teachers, particularly in early education, could help boys feel more connected to their schooling and provide more male role models for young boys.
As we work to engage more women in STEM, we should also encourage men to explore careers in HEAL—health, education, administration, and literacy. In his book Of Boys And Men, Richard Reeves suggests we should aim for “30 by 30”, or 30% representation of women in STEM and 30% of men in HEAL by 2030. Expanding career and technical education (CTE) in high schools could also offer boys practical pathways to success.
Finally, progressives must recognize that efforts to support boys and men should not be viewed as detracting from feminism. Similarly, conservatives must understand that initiatives aimed at helping girls and women do not diminish the value of men. By fostering a dialogue that includes all perspectives, we can work towards a society where everyone—regardless of gender—feels empowered and heard. Men, we need your voices, experiences, and commitment to build a stronger, more inclusive community.
Author: This article was written with the assistance of an AI language model to enhance the clarity and cohesiveness of the author’s original work.