The Boys Are Not Alright
The conversation about young men has finally entered the mainstream, but not necessarily for the right reasons. With a rise in male suicides, declining college enrollment, and young men feeling disconnected from modern society, a crisis is unfolding. Workforce participation among men without a college degree is at an all-time low. Suicide rates? Four times higher for men than women—and for divorced men, eight times higher.
The numbers don’t lie:
70% of divorces are initiated by women, often leaving men feeling isolated from their children.
Since 2010, the suicide rate for men under 30 has increased by 30%.
Men now make up only 23% of K-12 teachers, down from 33% in the 1980s, meaning boys lack male role models in school.
For every 100 women who earn a college degree, only 74 men do—a complete reversal of the gender gap from the 1970s.
What’s Happening?
Many young men feel lost, lacking clear guidance on how to navigate dating, work, and their role in society. Traditional sources of mentorship—fathers, coaches, religious leaders—are disappearing. Without strong role models, many boys turn to the internet, where they can easily fall into harmful influences. Some online communities promote positive masculinity, but many others lead young men down a darker path of misogyny, conspiracy theories, and victimhood.
As Scott Galloway put it, “There’s always a contest for the allegiance of young men. The question is: who wins it?”
How Did We Get Here?
Over the past few decades, cultural and economic shifts have drastically reshaped gender roles, but society hasn’t provided a new roadmap for men. As women have (rightfully) made huge gains in education and the workplace, many men have struggled to adapt. The decline of manufacturing and other blue-collar jobs has left many working-class men behind, and unlike women, they haven’t been encouraged to pursue new opportunities in growing fields like healthcare or education.
Meanwhile, we’ve seen a decline in male-dominated institutions that provided structure and purpose:
Boy Scouts of America is now co-ed, with fewer male leaders.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has longer waitlists for boys because there aren’t enough male mentors.
The YMCA—originally designed to support young men—now has a workforce made up mostly of women.
Add in the rise of single-parent households—where 92% of custodial parents are mothers—and it’s clear why many boys struggle to find strong male role models.
The Political Blind Spot
The most shocking part is that despite all these numbers, many leaders still refuse to acknowledge the crisis. Politicians talk endlessly about issues facing women and girls, but young men have largely been left out of the conversation.
At the Democratic National Convention, speaker after speaker addressed gender equality—but not a single person talked about the struggles of boys and men. When a party’s official platform lists 16 different demographic groups they advocate for—but excludes young men entirely—what message does that send?
This has political consequences. In 2024, women aged 45–64 swung hard toward Donald Trump, many citing concerns about their sons. The data suggests that for many moms, when they see their boys struggling in school, failing to launch into adulthood, or slipping into depression, gender politics take a back seat to reality.
What Can We Do?
The solution isn’t to “go back to the 1950s,” as some reactionaries suggest. It’s about creating a new model of masculinity—one that embraces strength, responsibility, and purpose, but also recognizes that men need guidance, mentorship, and support.
Some ideas that experts like Richard Reeves and Scott Galloway have proposed:
More male teachers: Schools need to actively recruit and incentivize men to become educators, especially in elementary and middle school.
National service programs: Like Israel’s mandatory service, giving young men structure, discipline, and a sense of purpose.
Expanded apprenticeships and trade programs: Not every young man should be pushed into college—alternative career paths must be celebrated.
Mentorship initiatives: Companies should actively encourage male employees to mentor boys.
Bottom Line
Young men aren’t asking for a pity party. They’re asking for direction. And if we don’t provide it, someone else will.
The question isn’t whether we should talk about the struggles of boys and men. It’s who’s leading the conversation.