The notion that women are ascending while men are in, well, a shithole, has reached a feverish pitch during this highly-combustible year.
Our current political system is broken and we have to admit, no one—and I mean no one—has a solution. Things look bad. But, when things look bad, people in the panic room can be a lot more open to change or anything that will get them out of the sticky situation they’re in.
And so this has been a great time to put the spotlight on the ascension of women. It’s well deserved, it’s long overdue, and it’s coming at the right time. So why are so many men not embracing a change that can be very, very good for everyone?
The Stats Don’t Lie, Do They?
I just finished reading two articles. One was about female entrepreneurs and the other was about the plight of young men. The women were deemed by a study to be more intuitively systems-oriented in their thinking, better at collaboration, more steadfast when dealing with challenges, and more geared to finding solutions, as opposed to seeking credit for them.
The article about men focused on how young guys have so many choices that they’re confused, how they have no heroes or role models, and how they have become the butt of jokes in advertising. (Although this is nothing new as women are gatekeepers for much of the purchasing for products sold on television.)
Two very different pictures.
The result has been a backlash by many men against society, and against women. Misogyny is on the rise.
You can see it with all of the mind-numbing violence in film, dispassionate sex, mean-spirited references or in extreme cases, sexual violence towards women by men in positions of power; particularly in the government and Hollywood. This is unacceptable. Although these actions are by no means representative of all men, these trends are no less disturbing.
Many young guys are frustrated, and those feelings are understandable. Young men are entering a messy situation and a harsher reality than the cultural landscape that Beaver and Wally Cleaver faced fifty years ago.
The problem is that many young men are taking it out on women. It’s wrong.
Is there anything we can do to stop it?
When you’re surrounded by confusion, frustration, and stagnation, it’s a perfect time for action. Let others hug the tree while the storm blows. I say, if you have the resources, facilities, and will—set your mind to it, and pursue your passion.
With a negative-focused media, there is an unquenchable thirst for positivity. We are here to enjoy life. It’s in our makeup. That’s why we’re blessed with the capacity to laugh.
Guys need to look into the mirror and see their potential and all of the great things about men. We are strong, resilient, and highly intelligent. We still hold the reins of power in the world and have a responsibility to step up and fill those shoes, lead by example, and create a positive impact on society.
Hey, it’s a great time to be a guy. We excel at fantasy football, we have more beers crafted than at any time in history, and we can score dates with hot women online with the swipe of a finger. Not a bad start.
And we have all of these wonderfully-talented women looking hopefully toward us and just wanting us to just show up and play the damn game.
Guys, we don’t have to do everything. Just do the right thing and women will appreciate us for who we are as people, as individuals, and as men.
It’s time for a new beginning. It’s time to be a Guy’s Guy.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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