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USA - Men

Donald Trump had boasted during the campaign that he would get more support from Black men and Latino men than he had before – a trend that appears to have materialised, particularly among Hispanics. About 8 in 10 Black voters backed Harris, down from the roughly 9 in 10 who backed Joe Biden four years ago, according to a VoteCast survey of voters for AP. More than half of Hispanic voters supported Harris, but that was down from the roughly 6 in 10 who backed Biden in 2020. Men 18-44 swung to Trump after being a small but important segment of Biden's win in 2020. Biden's seven-point advantage with this group evaporated on November 5, with Trump holding a six-point advantage over Harris, while also boosting his share of men over 45.

Kristina Monllos and Seb Joseph wrote November 8, 2024 "Adin Ross, Andrew Schulz and, of course, Joe Rogan. These voices in the so-called “manosphere” – a loosely defined group of misogynistic, male influencers – are shaping the cultural zeitgeist more than ever. Trump knew it too. In the final stretch of his campaign, he spent hours on their podcasts and streams. He reached millions of conservative and indifferent listeners, casting himself as one of them – a symbol of high-profile influence and a paragon of fame. For many younger voters who largely consume news through social feeds instead of mainstream outlets, it was their first real glimpse of Trump. Through these appearances, Trump worked to soften and legitimatise himself, recasting extremist views through the humour lens that propels figures like Tony Hinchcliffe. Above all, he used them to drive voter turnout. For marketers, this success has reignited a familiar worry. The rapid churn of digital culture amplifies both the benefits and risks of engaging with influencers, forcing marketers to confront long-avoided questions with fresh urgency – inside and outside the manosphere.

“As someone who’s deeply involved in the influencer marketing world, I’ve definitely noticed how Trump’s 2024 campaign and the rise of the ‘manosphere’ are shaking things up for brands,” said Ellen Flowers, influencer and editor of fashion blog The Perennial Style. “It’s a huge shift from traditional media to digital content creators, especially as influencers are playing an increasingly prominent role in shaping political conversations.” .... Still, the impact of the manosphere for Trump is evident – men under 30 favored him by 18 points, according to a CBS exit poll. For marketers, that’s a complex puzzle to piece together.... Trump’s re-election has undeniably elevated the manosphere as a formidable influencer network, yet it leaves marketers divided on whether the appeal of this demographic is worth the reputational risks that come with association.""

The idea of a "masculinity crisis" is a complex and often debated topic in contemporary culture. It generally refers to the perception that traditional notions of masculinity are being challenged, leading to uncertainty, confusion, or distress among men regarding their roles and identities. This concept is often discussed in various contexts, such as social changes, economic shifts, and evolving gender norms.

The term "manly man" often refers to a stereotypical image of a man who embodies traditional masculine traits, such as physical strength, ruggedness, and a confident demeanor. He might be portrayed with a muscular build, a square jawline, a beard or stubble, and wearing attire like a flannel shirt, leather jacket, or something similar that emphasizes his masculinity. The setting might include a rugged environment, like a forest, a workshop, or an outdoor scene, reinforcing the "manly" vibe.

Men have been the dominant sex since, well, the dawn of mankind. And yet, as Atlantic magazine senior editor Hanna Rosin discovered, that long-held truth is no longer true. At this unprecedented moment, women are no longer merely gaining on men; they have pulled decisively ahead by almost every measure. "Plastic women," adaptable in a changing economy and culture,, dominate institutions of higher education and steadily infiltrate the cubicles and boardrooms of a corporate America, and no longer need men to be the breadwinners. . . "Cardboard men," especially working-class and unskilled men, forced out of their factory jobs by the growing industrial flight, struggle to find purpose and employment in an evolving economy that values brains over brawn and the ability to build teams over handiness with a hammer. Already “the end of men”—the phrase Rosin coined—has entered the lexicon as indelibly as Betty Friedan’s “feminine mystique,” Simone de Beauvoir’s “second sex,” Susan Faludi’s “backlash,” and Naomi Wolf’s “beauty myth”. Rosin is not saying that women are winners in a global gender war or that they are doing super simply because men are doing worse. She’s just saying women are adapting to today’s economy more flexibly and resiliently than men. There’s a lot of evidence to support her case.

Brookings Institution scholar, Richard V. Reeves argued that boys and men are struggling. Profound economic and social changes of recent decades have many losing ground in the classroom, the workplace, and in the family. While the lives of women have changed, the lives of many men have remained the same or even worsened. Attitudes, institutions, and laws have failed to keep up. Conservative and progressive politicians, mired in their own ideological warfare, fail to provide thoughtful solutions.

Reeves notes that in 1972, when the U.S. government passed the landmark Title IX laws to promote gender equality in education, there was a 12 percentage-point gap in the proportion of bachelor’s degrees going to men compared to women. By 1982, the gap had closed. Nobody predicted what happened next: the gap started to widen rapidly in the opposite direction. By 2019, the gender gap in bachelor awards was wider, at 14 points, than it had been in 1972 — but the other way round.

Research from YouGov in 2016 showed that the muscular masculinity of decades past is a fading feature of American life for the young. Americans were asked to rate themselves on a scale of 0 to 6, there 0 is 'completely masculine' and 6 is 'completely feminine'. 65% of men over the age of 65 said that they are 'completely masculine, while only 28% of men aged 30 to 44 and 30% of men aged 18 to 29 said the same. Among under-30s, 13% put themselves halfway between the masculine and the feminine, while 12% said that they are at least slightly feminine. Only 4% of over-65 men said that they are at all feminine.

Masculinity in Crisis: Myths [1994] by Roger Horrocks argued that masculine identity is in deep crisis in Western culture - the old forms are disintegrating, while men struggle to establish new relations with women and with each other. This book offers a fresh look at gender, particularly masculinity, by using material from the author's work as a psychotherapist. The book also considers the contrubtions made by feminism, sociology and anthropology to the study of gender, and suggests that it must be studied from an interdisciplinary standpoint. Masculity is seen to have economic, political and psychological roots, but the concrete development of gender must be traced in the relations of the male infant with his parents. Here the young boy has to separate from his mother, and his own proto-feminine identity, and identify with his father - but in Western culture fathering is often deficient. Male identity is shown to be fractured, fragile and truncated. Men are trained to be rational and violent, and to shut out whole areas of existence and feeling. Many stereotypes imprison men - particularly machismo, which is shown to be deeply masochistic and self-destructive.

Traditional gender roles have been shifting, with greater emphasis on gender equality and the breaking down of stereotypical "masculine" and "feminine" behaviors. This shift can create a sense of uncertainty for some men who grew up with or are influenced by more traditional views on gender roles. Economic transformations, such as the decline of manufacturing jobs and the rise of the service economy, have impacted traditional male-dominated industries. This can lead to feelings of disempowerment among men who previously found identity and status through these roles. There is a growing awareness of mental health issues, and societal expectations are increasingly encouraging men to express emotions and seek help. However, these expectations may conflict with traditional views of masculinity that emphasize stoicism and self-reliance, leading to internal conflict.

Media portrayals of men and masculinity have also evolved. Some narratives celebrate more diverse and sensitive expressions of masculinity, while others criticize or satirize traditional masculinity, potentially causing confusion about what it means to "be a man" today. White Masculinity in Crisis in Hollywood’s Fin de Millennium Cinema by Pete Deakin claims that Hollywood cinema had a significant relationship with the millennial crisis of masculinity. From Fight Club (Fincher, 1999) and American Psycho (Harron, 2000), to Office Space (Judge, 1999), The Matrix (Wachowski’s, 1999) and American Beauty (Mendes, 1999), Pete Deakin attests that alongside the emergent “crisis” came a definitive body of some twenty-five Hollywood “crisis” titles; each film with a representational concern for the apparent “masculine malaise”. Asking whether Hollywood helped create, propel or sooth the very notion of the crisis-of-masculinity at this time, Deakin engages with some important cultural questions: how discursive—or even authentic—was it, and more vitally, whose actual crisis was this?

Stories of world-ending catastrophe have featured prominently in film and television. Zombie apocalypses, climate disasters, alien invasions, global pandemics and dystopian world orders fill our screens--typically with a singular figure or tenacious group tasked with saving or salvaging the world. Why are stories of End Times crisis so popular with audiences? And why is the hero so often a white man who overcomes personal struggles and major obstacles to lead humanity toward a restored future?

Apocalypse and Heroism in Popular Culture: Allegories of White Masculinity in Crisis by Katherine E. Sugg examines the familiar trope of the hero and the recasting of contemporary anxieties in films like The Walking Dead, Snowpiercer and Mad Max: Fury Road. Some have familiar roots in Western cultural traditions yet many question popular assumptions about heroes and heroism to tell new and fascinating stories about race, gender and society and the power of individuals to change the world.

Some men perceive advancements in women's rights and gender equality as a threat to their own status and identity. This can contribute to a sense of crisis, particularly among those who feel that traditional male roles are being undermined or devalued. The idea that masculinity is toxic has seeped deeply into western civilization. Masculinity is blamed for the actions of those outside of the norms that have been set forth over hundreds of years. Movements like #MeToo and discussions around toxic masculinity have brought attention to the negative aspects of traditional masculinity, such as aggression and dominance. While these discussions are necessary, they can also provoke defensive reactions and a sense of being under attack among some men.

As progressivism changes American society, and globalism shifts labor away from traditional manufacturing, the roles that have been prescribed to men since the Industrial Revolution have been rendered obsolete. Donald Trump's campaign successfully leveraged male resentment and entitlement, and now, with Trump as president and the rise of the #MeToo movement, current definitions of masculinity seem outdated and even dangerous. Young Men Research Initiative on 12 August 2024 released survey data of American young men’s media consumption and influencers, sports, views on masculinity as well as their romantic relationships. As Elon Musk interviewed Donald Trump, provided a powerful megaphone for the former president, who he has also endorsed. 68% of young men in the survey said they “like” Musk, among the highest influencers tested. As one explanation, the survey found that “entrepreneur” was the most admired career among young men, particularly for young black men. Wrestlers like “The Rock” and John Cena were THE most liked influencers tested, even more than top professional athletes, suggesting some opportunities for the left to cultivate popular male influencers that are not already politically coded.

New right influencers have tremendous resonance with this audience. Andrew Tate, who is extremely active on Twitter and has stoked far-right riots in the UK this month, is not a fringe figure: he is liked by half of young men (half of those claim they don’t trust his views, but they are still absorbing them). Shauna Daly, Co-Founder of YMRI, said “Young men’s movement to the right is being fueled by their consumption of right-leaning media and influencers, with little competition from comparable figures on the left. The trust young American men have in Elon Musk, Andrew Tate and others impacts not only their vote choice, but also their offline actions, as we have seen in the UK this month, and their views of women. This challenge requires an urgency and focus–in studying the problem, and in creating competitive media and communications.”

A 2024 poll on Gen Z’s ideological attitudes has revealed a concerning trend: a growing divide between men and women on social and political issues. Women are increasingly identifying as liberal, while men are shifting toward more conservative views. This divide is most evident in attitudes toward gender-related issues and is not confined to a single region but is seen globally, in countries as diverse as the US, Germany, South Korea, and Tunisia.

As marriage and birth rates decline across many countries, millennials and Gen Z are redefining long-term commitment. Younger generations in several nations are increasingly embracing alternative and non-traditional marriage trends, prompting discussions about the evolving nature of conventional marriage frameworks and their potential effects on society and the economy.

Nearly 40% of the men aged 18-29 cohort said they have never been in a serious relationship. About half agree with all of the following statements: “A serious relationship is too big a time commitment”; “A serious relationship is too big an emotional commitment;” “A serious relationship is too big a financial commitment;” “When it comes to relationships, there are too many social norms and rules for what is expected of someone like me”.

The term "incel" is short for "involuntary celibate." It refers to an online subculture primarily consisting of men who express extreme frustration, anger, or resentment about their lack of sexual or romantic relationships. The incel community is often characterized by misogynistic views, with some members blaming women or society at large for their perceived rejection and lack of sexual opportunities. The incel subculture has gained notoriety due to its association with extreme and sometimes violent ideologies. Some individuals who identify as incels have been involved in or have promoted acts of violence, leading to significant concern and scrutiny from both media and law enforcement.

The term itself originally had a more neutral connotation, used by people (of any gender) who were struggling with loneliness and the inability to form relationships. However, over time, it has become more associated with negative and harmful ideologies, particularly within certain online communities.

Some men embrace the evolving definitions of masculinity, recognizing the value of emotional intelligence, equality, and new roles in society. Others may respond with hostility or retreat into more rigid traditionalist views, sometimes leading to the promotion of hyper-masculine or reactionary ideologies. Many individuals and organizations are engaging in discussions around masculinity, aiming to redefine it in a way that allows men to thrive in a changing world while maintaining healthy and positive identities.

The "masculinity crisis" is not universally accepted as a crisis, but rather as a reflection of ongoing societal changes and the challenges some men face in navigating them.