Intelligence Squared sponsored a debate at the Skirball Center in New York City recently entitled “Men Are Finished.” The debate was one in a series of debates on different social issues sponsored by the organization. Our very own Scott Luxor attended and put together this video.
The summary of the debate, posted on their website, says:
In a modern, post-industrial economy that seems better suited to women than men, many are wondering if men have been permanently left behind. Education and employment statistics point to a clear and growing dominance in women’s status at home and in the workplace. Are men primed for a comeback or have the old rules changed for good?
The debaters arguing against the future of male dominance were Hanna Rosin, author of the “XX Factor” blog and Dan Abrams of ABC News, author of the book Man Down.
The debaters in defense of men included Christina Hoff Sommers, author of The War Against Boys and David Zinczenko, Editor of Men’s Health magazine.
The lively debate provoked some passionate reactions from the audience.
Although there was not a definitive conclusion to the debate, the “anti-men” position was much better argued. In a flash poll about the statement “Men Are Finished,” taken before the debate, 20% were in favor of the statement. After the debate, however, 66% were in favor of it.
You know how we feel, so let us know what you thought of the comments from the panelists and from Slate editor David Plotz.
And be sure to check out our response to the “End of Men”:
That all depends on what we do as men. We need to organize ourselves and stop acting like we are too cool to react. Over and over again I see men taking a high level intellectually approach to this topic. We need to get angry in order to act. There is a war out there by large groups of women against men and we just stand around pretending it’s not happening. We need a mens lobby that is just as petty and self-promoting as womens. Maybe biologically we are not designed to fit against women but that can AND MUST… Read more »
How many women engineers (electrical, mechanical, or otherwise) are there? How many female physics majors are there? And I think the computer science statistics just go without saying. Biology, on the other hand, at least from what I’ve seen has a ton of women, I’ll admit. I doubt that Anna Holmes (or especially Hanna Rosin) or most people are willing to admit this, but the reason why there aren’t many women computer scientists, is because, although many of them are good students, the majority of women can’t or don’t want to code. These are only my first hand observations at… Read more »
I’d like to just ignore the trash talk, “men are finished”. It is meant to inflame, not help resolve real issues. But, there is an opportunity here. The people making this argument are declaring and proving with statistics that the “patriarchy” is not some uber-successful conspiracy in which all men lord over all women. This opens the door to a more nuanced and true understanding of gender equity in North America today. I believe that gender equity is an important and admirable goal. And the impacts of inequality exist. I’ve recognized this for decades now and have worked in my… Read more »
Every man knows arguing with women, is not a progressive approach.
I think Men are Finished, but only in regards to what they are fighting and who they are fighting for. What should be a discussion of the NEW spiritual and emotional direction of Modern Men has degenerated to a Femisist Grandstanding and I told u So’s What bothers me about the framing of this debate is that for all the talk of egalitarianism, there would be feminist like Hanna Rosin who would push to fear monger and exploited Every paranoid delusion of the most misogynistic of Men’s rights activist. Men are Disposable (check) Men are Obsolete (check) Men are Corrupt (check)… Read more »