The Masculinity Debate Is A Huge Mess - Richard Reeves - #1087
Quotes & Clips
5 clipsPoliticians are finally addressing men's issues
“We've got governors, Governor Newsom, Governor Whitmer, Governor Wesmore in Maryland, also Governor Spencer Cox in Utah. All of him have got pretty serious initiatives now to try and promote boys and men. We've got, as I'm speaking to you now, two bills have just been introduced to Congress to create a men's health strategy and office and to help men with their mental health after fatherhood, right? The Men Matter Bill.”
Democrats fear losing young male voters
“I think I have to be honest that I felt like banging my head against the brick wall with Democrats until November 2024 and then there was an election, and then my inbox started filling up with Democrats. Because they saw how much they'd fallen behind with men, especially young men. I mean, they can read a poll. And there's no question that one of the things that happened in the 24 election was that Democrats lost men, and especially young men, in a very, very big way.”
Activists are psychologically reluctant to succeed
“Activists are always psychologically reluctant to succeed. Because there's something about your identity and your purpose that is tied up to your own failure. If you succeed, you have to start saying, great, we've done it. Now I have to find some new identity. If you've actually wrapped up your identity in the sense that the whole of society is stacked against men, and then suddenly people do start caring about men, you've either got to say, oh, that's not true anymore, and change your identity, or say, no, no, that can't be true.”
Institutionalizing commissions makes male advocacy permanent
“Virginia is, if the new governor signs it, going to create the first commission on boys and men, to sit alongside the commission on women and girls. Now, it's just a government commission in the state. But what that means is that the issues of boys and men will be at the table in policymaking in Virginia in a way that they weren't before. And that will still be there five years from now if that happens. That's going to get a lion item. It's going to be real.”
Men's issues must become mainstream and boring
“My whole thing is I want this issue to become boring. I want this issue to be mainstream. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Guys are falling behind. We've heard it. We know we're working on it. We've got it. I want people to say, well, that's why we've got this Office of Men's Health. And that's why we've got this big push on male teachers. We're doing it. What are you talking about?”
Want to hear more clips?
Get a daily email of the best quotes & audio clips from the top podcasts.
Episode Description
Richard Reeves is a writer, researcher and the Founder of the American Institute for Boys & Men. What is the current state of men and boys? As social movements have focused on supporting historically marginalised groups, Richard has led the march on whether men’s challenges have been overlooked. So what is the current state of men and boys, and are we finally moving toward meaningfully addressing their challenges? Timestamps: (0:00) What’s Changed in the Boys and Men Debate? (6:09) Do Men’s Rights Activists Actually Want to Win? (12:07) Why We Need Better Conversations About Boys and Men (28:31) Does Gender Politics Need a New Language? (29:46) Looksmaxxing: The Manosphere’s Next Obsession? (35:01) Are Men Being Written Out of Society? (47:37) Should Men Lead the Household? (49:28) Is Modern Society Becoming Feminised? (51:28) Why Feminists Need to Stop Demonising Men (55:57) How is Mate Value Changing Modern Dating? (01:05:45) Are Working Women Changing Fertility Rates? (01:20:21) Are We Waiting Too Long to Have Families? (01:27:15) Why Paternity is So Important (01:30:37) Should Fathers Be in the Delivery Room? (01:36:49) Why Fathers Need More Recognition (01:40:33) Are Modern Men Satisfied With Life? (01:42:46) Is Title IX Helping or Hurting Men? (01:47:18) What Does the Future Look Like For Men? (02:04:21) Where to Find Richard Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Get up to 20% off Timeline powered by Mitopure (now at a lower price) at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman - Get In Touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices