Society needs to move beyond the concept of toxic masculinity and address the structural issues that disproportionately affect men, in order to create a world that allows individuals to flourish in their own way.
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What is the concept of toxic masculinity?
—Toxic masculinity is a term that originated from academic work with violent incarcerated prisoners, but its usage has been distorted and exaggerated in recent years, leading to its misapplication to any offensive or unpleasant behavior by men.
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How has the education system affected gender gaps?
—The education system is structurally biased towards women and girls, leading to a widening gender gap in educational performance, particularly in critical skills like organization and commitment.
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Why are there fewer male teachers in early education?
—The lack of support and understanding for boys in education, along with the shift towards more female teachers and a decrease in male-friendly learning styles, has contributed to a structural problem where girls are more advanced in their developmental abilities than boys.
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How has the changing labor market affected men?
—The shift away from heavy industry manufacturing has led to a decline in male employment and wages, while women have been able to adapt more easily to the changing labor market.
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Why is it important to address men's struggles?
—Addressing men's struggles is important not only for their well-being but also for the well-being of women and girls, as it has implications for gender equality and the flourishing of all individuals.
Key insights
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📚 "Nobody predicted that once girls and women caught up with boys and men that they would keep going and that we would now have a bigger gender gap in higher education than we did 50 years ago."
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🤔 The problems of boys and men are structural in nature rather than individual but are rarely treated as such.
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🏗️ Structural changes in the education system and labor market have had a disproportionate effect on men, challenging traditional family structures and the meaning of fatherhood.
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🏫 The difference between the chronological age and developmental age of the average boy and girl, especially in adolescence, has been revealed by the women's movement.
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👩🏫 Feminists should be leading the charge for more men in professions traditionally dominated by women to break down gender stereotypes.
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🧠 Boys' impulse control development comes much later than girls, affecting their academic performance and career prospects.
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🧔 "Dad's matter period um not just as Breadwinners not just but period and in some ways if you're not a breadwinner you matter even more perhaps and your kids lives because you're going to be more involved in their care and so on too."
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👨👧👦 Engaged dads are good for the dads and the kids, with long-term positive outcomes for mental health and academic performance.
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🌍 Assuming men and women will continue to live together, helping each other to flourish is the ultimate project, including paying attention to the struggles of men.