The Crisis of Modern Manhood
In an age of female empowerment and evolving gender norms, where do men and boys fit in? This is the pressing question at the heart of Richard V. Reeves’ timely and thought-provoking new book “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It.”
As a father of three sons, Reeves brings both personal insight and scholarly rigor to examining what he calls the “male malaise” plaguing Western societies. From education to employment to family life, he argues that men and boys are falling behind in concerning ways—not due to feminism or some inherent male deficiency, but because of structural challenges that demand structural solutions.
With a clear-eyed yet compassionate approach, Reeves takes us on an eye-opening journey through the data and research to understand the roots of male struggles and chart a path forward. The result is an urgent wake-up call and a blueprint for helping boys and men thrive alongside women in a more gender-equal world.
The Alarming State of Modern Manhood
Reeves wastes no time laying out the stark realities facing males today:
- Boys are 50% more likely than girls to fail at math, reading and science in school
- Male wages have stagnated or fallen since the 1970s while women’s have risen
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 45 in the UK
- Men account for 3 out of 4 “deaths of despair” from suicide, overdose or alcohol
The statistics paint a grim picture across education, employment, physical and mental health. But rather than play the blame game, Reeves digs deeper to understand the structural forces at work.
Falling Behind in the Classroom
In education, Reeves argues that biological differences in brain development put boys at a disadvantage in today’s schooling model. Girls’ brains mature faster, especially in areas tied to impulse control and planning. This development gap is widest during the crucial adolescent years when academic performance matters most for future prospects.
The result? Girls now dominate in high school GPAs, college admissions and graduation rates across most OECD countries. Reeves calls this the “spectacular upsurge” of female academic success—a positive trend, but one that has left many boys in the dust.
Struggling in a Changing Economy
The picture is equally concerning in the labor market. Automation and globalization have hit traditionally male-dominated industries like manufacturing especially hard. Meanwhile, the fastest-growing job sectors tend to be female-dominated “HEAL” fields – health, education, administration, and literacy.
Reeves astutely observes that while girls and women have successfully moved into many previously male-dominated professions, the reverse has not occurred. The result is a “hemorrhaging of decently paid jobs in traditionally male sectors” with nothing to replace them.
Lost in the Family
Finally, Reeves examines how changing family structures have left many men unmoored from traditional provider roles. As women have gained economic independence, marriage rates have fallen and out-of-wedlock births have risen dramatically.
This has created a crisis of purpose for many men, especially in working-class communities. Without clear societal expectations around fatherhood and family responsibilities, too many men are drifting into what Reeves calls “cultural redundancy.”
A Nuanced Look at a Complex Issue
One of the great strengths of “Of Boys and Men” is Reeves’ ability to tackle such a charged topic with nuance and balance. He explicitly rejects simplistic narratives of male victimhood or anti-feminist backlash. Instead, he seeks to understand male struggles within the broader context of positive trends in gender equality.
Reeves is unequivocal that the advances women have made in recent decades are overwhelmingly positive and should be celebrated. The problem is not that women have gained ground, but that many men haven’t adapted to keep pace in a changing world.
He’s also careful to examine how race and class intersect with gender, noting that working-class men and boys of color face particularly acute challenges. This intersectional lens adds crucial nuance to the analysis.
Bold Solutions for Boys and Men
The back half of the book is devoted to Reeves’ policy prescriptions, which are both creative and sure to spark debate. Some of his proposals include:
- “Redshirting” boys to start school a year later than girls
- Massive investment in vocational education and apprenticeships
- Reforming family leave policies to encourage engaged fatherhood
- Recruiting more men into teaching and “HEAL” professions
- Reimagining child support and custody laws
While readers may not agree with every suggestion, Reeves deserves credit for putting forward concrete ideas to address a complex problem. His proposals are grounded in data and international best practices, offering a starting point for deeper policy discussions.
Critiques and Room for Improvement
“Of Boys and Men” is an impressively researched and argued book, but it’s not without flaws. At times, Reeves relies too heavily on anecdotes from his own family experiences, which can come across as overly personal for such a data-driven work.
The book also feels somewhat U.S. and U.K.-centric in its analysis and policy prescriptions. A more global perspective examining how different cultures are navigating changing gender norms could have added valuable context.
Additionally, while Reeves touches on issues of sexuality and gender identity, a deeper exploration of how LGBTQ+ experiences intersect with masculinity would have strengthened the book’s inclusivity.
Finally, some readers may find Reeves’ tone occasionally veering into alarmism, though he generally maintains a measured approach to the data.
A Timely Contribution to an Urgent Conversation
Despite these minor quibbles, “Of Boys and Men” is an important and timely contribution to our understanding of modern masculinity. Reeves makes a compelling case that the struggles of men and boys deserve serious attention—not in opposition to women’s equality, but as a complement to it.
With clear prose, rigorous analysis and an empathetic approach, Reeves has produced an accessible yet scholarly examination of one of the most pressing social issues of our time. It’s a must-read for parents, educators, policymakers and anyone concerned with gender equity and social progress.
A Barack Obama 2024 Summer Reading List Pick
It’s no surprise to see this book on Obama’s reading list. Like the former president, Reeves brings a nuanced, data-driven approach to thorny social issues. His call for a “prosocial masculinity” that embraces gender equality while valuing positive male contributions echoes Obama’s own reflections on fatherhood and manhood.
In the Context of Reeves’ Work
“Of Boys and Men” builds on themes from Reeves’ previous book, “Dream Hoarders,” which examined opportunity hoarding among the upper middle class. Here, he brings that same incisive analysis of social mobility to issues of gender.
Readers interested in deeper dives into related topics might also consider:
- “The End of Men” by Hanna Rosin
- “The Boy Crisis” by Warren Farrell and John Gray
- “The Descent of Man” by Grayson Perry
Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
In our quest for gender equality, have we overlooked the struggles of boys and men? Richard Reeves argues convincingly that we have—and that addressing male challenges is crucial not just for men, but for creating a truly equitable society for all.
“Of Boys and Men” is a clarion call to reimagine masculinity for the 21st century. It challenges us to move beyond tired gender wars and embrace a more holistic vision of equality—one that uplifts women while also supporting boys and men as they navigate a changing world.
As Reeves writes in his concluding chapter: “We need, as I said in the introduction, a positive vision of masculinity for a postfeminist world.” With this important book, he’s made a valuable contribution toward that goal.