Prominent Progressive Sounds Alarm on ‘Crisis Among American Boys and Men’

A former Democratic presidential candidate drew applause from across the ideological spectrum Thursday when he advocated for more societal attention for boys and men, arguing that a “crisis” among males is having devastating consequences on the nation.

“The fact that this isn’t front and center of any policy agenda is a massive failure of our media institutions and public leadership that struggle to frame boys and/or men as sympathetic figures despite very clear data indicating the need,” tweeted Andrew Yang, a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination and for New York City mayor.

The fact that this isn’t front and center of any policy agenda is a massive failure of our media institutions and public leadership that struggle to frame boys and/or men as sympathetic figures despite very clear data indicating the need.

— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) January 27, 2022

Yang discussed the issue on his latest podcast, which examined the issue of “why boys and men are failing.”

On social media, Yang said males:

• Comprise only 40.5 percent of college students and “are failing in high school at much higher rates.”
• Are two to three times more likely “to be diagnosed” with ADHD.
• Are “five times more likely to spend time in juvenile detention.”

Boys are more than 2-3x as likely to be diagnosed as having ADHD, five times more likely to spend time in juvenile detention, and are far less likely to finish high school. In many places being good at school is now considered feminine. 70% of US valedictorians were girls in ‘12.

— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) January 27, 2022

Noting that school “is now considered feminine” in some places, Yang said 70 percent of valedictorians are girls.

“It doesn’t get any better when men become adults,” Yang said. “Average male wages have declined since 1990 in real terms. At least one-sixth of prime working-age men 25-54 are either unemployed or out of the workforce. More men aged 18-34 are living with parents than with romantic partners.”

Economic transformation hasn’t helped. Almost three-quarters of manufacturing workers are – were – men; the sector has lost about 5 million jobs since 2000. That’s a lot of unemployed men.

— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) January 27, 2022

The “sidelining of this many boys and men” has “massive social, political and economic consequences,” Yang said.

The sidelining of this many boys and men has massive social, political and economic consequences. Tyler Cowen calls it “the bad men problem.” It’s getting tougher and tougher to not fall into this category. Addressing or at least reducing this is crucial to any positive future.

— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) January 27, 2022

“There’s a crisis among American boys and men that is too often ignored and is definitely going unaddressed,” Yang said. “… The fact that this isn’t front and center of any policy agenda is a massive failure of our media institutions and public leadership that struggle to frame boys and/or men as sympathetic figures despite very clear data indicating the need.”

Men now comprise only 40.5% of college students and are failing in high school at much higher rates. There’s a crisis among American boys and men that is too often ignored and is definitely going unaddressed.

— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) January 27, 2022

Yang said he wants his Political Action Committee, known as the Forward Party, to be a “party for positive masculinity.” Yang registered as an independent last year.

Yang’s comments led to plenty of applause, including from Warren Farrell, author of The Boy Crisis.

“Thank you, @AndrewYang for tweeting about our boy crisis!” Farrell tweeted. “… We need dads to support overwhelmed moms; give children their dads; and give dads a sense of purpose.”

Author Lisa Britton also praised Yang’s comments.

“People tell me to give up… We’re never going to be able to make positive change to help boys & men,” she said. “Well, I have hope… and my hope skyrocketed when Andrew Yang tweeted about boys & men to his 1.8 million followers today. I won’t stop beating this drum until change is made!”

Photo courtesy: Matheus Ferrero/Unsplash

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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