Of Boys and Men

Of Boys and Men focuses on the multifaceted challenges facing modern males, including mental health, education, the workforce, and societal expectations. It highlights the importance of gender-specific support systems, the impact of economic changes, and the critical role of relational skills in personal and professional contexts.

Mental Health Education Workforce and Employment Societal Expectations Gender Disparities Public Health Relationship Skills Economic Trends

The hottest Substack posts of Of Boys and Men

And their main takeaways

Everybody hates Andrew Tate

286 implied HN points • 01 Mar 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Commentary Public Opinion Media Criticism Gender Issues Right-wing
  1. Andrew Tate is widely criticized for his controversial views on gender roles, often referring to women in derogatory terms.
  2. Even conservative figures, like Ron DeSantis and Ben Shapiro, are speaking out against Tate, showing a rare unity in disapproval across the political spectrum.
  3. Despite some minor support from fringe groups, the general consensus is that most people do not want Andrew Tate in the U.S. due to his alleged criminal background.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joins the boys and men party

465 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Governance Education Gender Issues Economic Policy
  1. Governors are starting to focus on the challenges young men face today. They are discussing issues like housing and education that especially impact young men.
  2. Gretchen Whitmer highlighted specific gender gaps in home buying and education in her recent speech. She plans to take action to help increase men's participation in higher education.
  3. This is a significant move from a female leader known for advocating women's rights. It shows that improving opportunities for both genders is important and not a competition.

Places without women

171 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Demographics Social Issues Gender Studies Public Policy
  1. There's a growing trend where many U.S. counties have more men than women. This is particularly noticeable in the younger age group of 20 to 39.
  2. From 2003 to 2023, the number of counties with a majority of men doubled. This shift is significant and mainly seen in rural areas.
  3. Skewed sex ratios can affect various social issues like crime rates and relationship dynamics. It's important to study these trends to understand their impacts better.

Gov. Wes Moore leads the way

250 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Governance Social Issues Public Policy Education Mental health
  1. Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland is focusing on supporting boys and men, highlighting their challenges like low job participation and rising suicide rates. It's important to uplift all genders, and he believes addressing men's issues can benefit everyone.
  2. Moore’s approach is not just to help one gender but to ensure opportunities for both boys and girls. He aims to create solutions that support the growth of young boys while also caring for young girls.
  3. Other governors have shown interest in similar initiatives, but Moore's commitment is seen as the most serious so far. His leadership may encourage more political action on these important issues.

Bro time matters

290 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies Isolation Wellbeing
  1. Men benefit from spending time with each other, and male friendships are important for their well-being. It's good for men to have their own spaces to hang out and connect.
  2. Women generally have more favorable views about all-female gatherings compared to all-male ones. This shows a difference in how people view the positivity of gender-specific social groups.
  3. While some worry that men can encourage bad behavior when together, the truth is that male friendships can help reduce isolation and support better mental health.
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Unmarried Dads matter too

113 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fatherhood Legal Reform
  1. A recent ruling in Arizona helps unmarried fathers secure their parental rights. This means they can now have a clearer way to establish their role without unnecessary legal hurdles.
  2. Unmarried fathers often face an unfair system compared to married fathers. While married dads have clear rights, unmarried dads struggle to prove their paternity and gain custody or visitation rights.
  3. There's a call for reform in family law, especially concerning child support and custody arrangements. The goal is to treat fathers more fairly and recognize their contributions beyond just financial support.

The high school gender gap in 6 charts

177 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🚌 Education Gender Studies High School College Admissions Standardized Testing
  1. Girls are performing better than boys in high school, especially when it comes to GPA. Most top students with high grades are girls.
  2. While boys do better on the math section of the SAT, they struggle with the verbal section. This shows that their strengths and weaknesses vary across different subjects.
  3. Boys are less likely to take Advanced Placement exams compared to girls. Encouraging more boys to participate in these tests could help improve their academic standing.

We rise together

250 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Equality Philanthropy Mental health Education Social Issues
  1. We need to help both boys and girls to achieve true gender equality. Supporting boys and men doesn't mean we stop supporting women and girls; it's about helping everyone together.
  2. Boys and men face serious challenges that often get overlooked, like educational struggles and mental health issues. Addressing these problems is important for them and for society as a whole.
  3. Philanthropists and advocates should consider investing in boys and men's unique issues, especially in mental health, education, and fatherhood. This will help create a better balance and improve the lives of all genders.

Willful ignorance of the male suicide crisis

495 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Mental health Public Policy Gender Issues Statistics
  1. Many reports on suicide focus too much on girls, giving the impression that they are at a higher risk, which is misleading. In fact, most suicides among teenagers involve boys.
  2. The media often discusses the feelings of sadness and suicidal thoughts in girls but fails to provide clear statistics on the actual suicide rates by gender. This can create confusion about who is really most at risk.
  3. It's essential to acknowledge the growing suicide crisis among young men and include accurate data in discussions to better address mental health issues for everyone. We need to talk about both boys and girls honestly.

Memo to Dems: Don't blame sexism

274 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Issues Voting behavior Democratic strategy Men's Health Social Issues
  1. Democrats should not blame sexism for their election loss. If they do, they might miss understanding the real issues voters care about.
  2. Young men are facing many challenges, but they don't feel that the left is addressing their concerns. This can make them lean towards the right.
  3. Helping boys and men can also benefit women and girls. It's important for both sides to recognize each other's struggles and work together.

How to Dad

216 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
  1. Parenting has become a competitive game, and many parents feel pressured to prepare their kids for a tough world. This pressure makes parenting seem like an extreme challenge today.
  2. Dads play an important role in parenting, and we need to recognize their value beyond traditional roles. Their involvement should be encouraged, not seen as less important.
  3. Boys are struggling more than ever in schools, with gaps in performance and support. We need to focus on making schools more boy-friendly to help them succeed.

Politics for men

173 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political issues Voting behavior Gender Politics
  1. There is a growing need for a political agenda that focuses on issues facing boys and men. Many of these challenges are often ignored, leading to feelings of neglect.
  2. Current political dynamics show that young men could sway election outcomes. They are still looking for candidates who address their concerns effectively.
  3. A balanced approach that acknowledges and supports the needs of both men and women could be beneficial for any political party. It's important for voters to feel seen and heard.

How to get more male teachers

95 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🚌 Education Teaching Policy Workforce Gender Employment
  1. There is a significant drop in the number of male teachers, especially in secondary schools, where their share has fallen from 48% to 36%. This means fewer male role models in middle and high schools.
  2. Many men enter teaching later in life, often switching from other careers. About 25% of male teachers come from different professions, indicating a need for easier pathways into education.
  3. Men are more likely to leave teaching for other careers or further education compared to women. This suggests that improving job satisfaction and financial benefits could help retain more male teachers in the field.

No, men’s views on policy haven’t really changed

99 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Voting Trends Gender gap Policy Analysis Political engagement Public Opinion
  1. Men's views on key issues have not changed much in the past two years. They generally care about the same topics as women.
  2. The gender gap in policy preferences is actually getting smaller. Men and women are aligning more closely on what they consider important.
  3. Even when they see issues like voting rights as important, men and women might have different reasons for why they care, reflecting broader cultural divisions rather than just policy differences.

The case for male spaces

202 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Gender Society Community Relationships Identity
  1. Male friendships require intentional effort and time commitment to grow and combat loneliness
  2. There is a need for more male spaces and organizations to support boys and men's social development
  3. The shift towards co-ed organizations may have unintended consequences on male relational skills and mental health

How men can be invaluable at the dance

125 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships Mental health Gender Equality Parenting
  1. Relational skills are crucial for men in today's society, more than physical courage.
  2. In modern marriages, more egalitarian relationships require higher relational skills for negotiation and emotional intimacy.
  3. Developing relational skills is essential for men not just in personal relationships but also in the workplace where jobs are increasingly requiring social interaction.

What Josh Hawley gets wrong about me

131 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Gender Studies Labor Market Political Economy Government Policy
  1. More men should be encouraged to work in HEAL professions like healthcare and education for a variety of reasons.
  2. It's important to address the gender disparities in occupations like health care and education to better serve clients and address labor shortages.
  3. Supporting opportunities for men in both blue-collar jobs and growing HEAL sectors is vital for a balanced workforce.

The underreported rise in male suicide

129 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Public Health
  1. Boys and men are four times more likely to die by suicide, a fact that isn't commonly known.
  2. Male suicide rates have been on the rise, with a significant increase in 2021 especially among boys and young men.
  3. There isn't enough awareness or media coverage on the issue of male suicide, with public health agencies like the CDC not highlighting the gender disparity in suicide rates.

The math gap that's not what you think it is

77 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🚌 Education School Districts
  1. The gender gap in math isn't what many think it is; girls are actually ahead in reading and math.
  2. Lower-income and districts with more Black students show a gender gap favoring girls in math.
  3. Teachers have varying ways of grading, which can impact student outcomes and disparities.

A She-cession, then a He-cession, then just, a Recession.

19 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Issues Labor Market
  1. The pandemic-induced recession initially hit women's employment hardest, but male employment recovered slower.
  2. Female employment was impacted more due to job industries affected by the pandemic and increased childcare responsibilities.
  3. While women's participation rates bounced back, concerns arose over slower job recovery for middle-aged men, especially those who entered the job market during previous crises.