Why men’s traditional gender roles are changing

Summary

In a discussion on the future of masculinity, author Jack Myers posits that traditional male dominance is fading, with young men increasingly outperformed by women in education and the economy. He notes a generational shift where men are defying gender norms and facing new challenges without the support structures women have developed. Jody Kander adds that societal gender roles are converging, leading to confusion and a need for redefined male roles, as men navigate changing expectations in work, family, and relationships.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Jack Myers, author of 'The Future of Men', suggests that traditional male dominance is fading, especially among younger generations.
• 📊 There's a significant shift in education and economic performance, with women outperforming men in college degrees and income for single, childless individuals under 30.
• 👨‍🎓 Young men are increasingly growing up in environments that defy traditional gender norms, leading to a new perception of masculinity.
• 💼 The job market favors those with college education, which is now predominantly accessed by women, impacting gender roles in the workplace.
• 🏡 Jody Kander points out that gender roles are converging, with examples like women in combat roles and men staying at home, leading to social confusion.
• 💍 There's a societal shift where men are not solely expected to be the primary earners, which is both a challenge and an opportunity.
• 👶 The younger generation of men is more open to sharing responsibilities like childcare and household work, reflecting a change in family dynamics.
• 📉 Despite progress, men still dominate in top leadership positions and political spheres, indicating that gender equality is not fully achieved.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 There's a need for better support systems and narratives for men to navigate the changing expectations and roles in society.
• 📚 The book 'The Future of Men' by Jack Myers emphasizes the importance of understanding and adapting to the evolving landscape of gender roles and masculinity.

Q & A

What is Jack Myers' perspective on the future of masculinity in the 21st century?

Jack Myers believes that traditional male dominance is fading, with young men increasingly being defined, dominated, and controlled by women due to changes in education, economic performance, and societal roles.

How does Jack Myers explain the shift in gender dynamics in terms of education?

Myers points out that women are now outperforming men educationally, with 60% of college degrees going to women compared to only 40% for men, which is a significant flip from the 1970s.

What economic trends does Jack Myers observe that are affecting the concept of masculinity?

Myers notes that under 30, single, unmarried women are out-earning their male counterparts by almost 20%, and that men are economically underperforming in general, with fewer college degrees and less job security.

How does Jody Kantor's reporting on gender roles align with Jack Myers' views?

Kantor corroborates Myers' views, stating that gender roles are converging, with traditional scripts being challenged across society, including in the military and family structures.

What challenges do men face today according to the discussion?

The discussion highlights that men face challenges such as lacking support systems similar to those available to women, and societal expectations that do not align with their economic and educational realities.

What is the impact of these changes on young men's perception of themselves and their roles?

Young men are growing up in an environment that defies traditional gender norms, leading to a shift in their concept of masculinity and a potential lack of clarity on their roles in society.

How does Jody Kantor describe the current state of gender equality in the workplace?

Kantor suggests that while there is progress, barriers for women remain stubborn, and there is a complex dual situation where men and women share the anxiety of earning money and raising a family more equally.

What are the implications of these changes for family dynamics?

The script implies that family dynamics are evolving, with more shared responsibilities and a need for a new narrative that supports men in their changing roles within families.

What role does media and advertising play in perpetuating or changing gender norms according to the discussion?

The discussion suggests that media and advertising often reinforce outdated gender stereotypes, which can hinder progress towards gender equality and need to change to reflect more accurate and supportive portrayals of men.

What are the key takeaways from Jack Myers' book 'The Future of Men' as discussed in the transcript?

The key takeaways include the fading of male dominance, the need for a new narrative around masculinity, the importance of supporting men in their changing roles, and the economic and educational shifts that are redefining gender dynamics.

Outlines

00:00

🚹 The Shifting Landscape of Masculinity

Jack Myers, author of 'The Future of Men,' discusses the changing dynamics of gender roles, particularly focusing on how young men are increasingly being outperformed by women in education and the workforce. He highlights that traditional masculine norms are being challenged as young men are growing up in environments where women are the primary earners. This shift is leading to a new generation of men who are not learning traditional gender roles and are facing the pressure of adapting to these changes. Jody Kander, a New York Times reporter, adds that gender roles are converging, with women taking on more traditionally male roles and men facing new challenges in defining their identities. The discussion touches on the economic disparities between men and women, especially under the age of 30, and the lack of support systems for men as they navigate these changes.

05:01

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Redefining Gender Roles and Family Dynamics

The conversation continues with a focus on how society is grappling with the new gender roles and the implications for family life. It is noted that men are sharing the anxiety of earning money and raising a family more equally than before, which presents both challenges and opportunities. The example of Mark Zuckerberg taking paternity leave is cited as a positive sign of changing attitudes towards men's roles in family life. However, it is also acknowledged that women still bear the brunt of household and childcare responsibilities, despite economic advancements. The discussion calls for a better narrative and support system for men, as well as a reevaluation of traditional gender roles in media and advertising, to help men adapt to these changes and find a new sense of identity in relationships and family structures.

Keywords

💡Masculinity

Masculinity refers to the traits, behaviors, and roles typically associated with men in a society. In the video, the concept is discussed in the context of how it is changing in the 21st century, with men being increasingly defined, dominated, and controlled by women, as suggested by Jack Myers. The conversation explores how traditional gender norms are being challenged and redefined, especially among younger generations.

💡Gender Norms

Gender norms are the societal expectations and standards that dictate how individuals of a particular gender should behave. The script discusses how young men are defying these norms, which is leading to a generational shift in the understanding and expression of masculinity. The conversation highlights that these norms are not being learned or passed down in the same way as before, leading to a convergence of gender roles.

💡Economic Performance

This term refers to how individuals or groups perform in economic terms, such as income and employment. In the script, it is mentioned that women are economically outperforming men, particularly in terms of college education and earnings. The statistic that 60% of college degrees are going to women versus 40% to men illustrates this shift and its impact on traditional gender roles.

💡Educational Attainment

Educational attainment refers to the highest level of education one has achieved. The video script points out that women are out-educating men, with more college degrees being awarded to women. This trend is significant as it influences economic opportunities and challenges traditional expectations of men being the primary earners in a family.

💡Generational Flip

A generational flip denotes a significant shift in attitudes, behaviors, or roles from one generation to the next. The script discusses how the roles of men and women have reversed compared to the 1970s, with women now more likely to be educated and earn more than their male counterparts, especially among the younger, unmarried demographic.

💡Workplace

The workplace is the setting where people engage in work or employment. The script mentions that jobs being created increasingly require a college education, which has implications for gender dynamics as more women are obtaining these qualifications. This trend suggests a changing landscape in the workplace where women are becoming more dominant.

💡Gender Roles Convergence

Gender roles convergence refers to the blurring of traditional gender roles and the adoption of roles by either gender that were previously associated with the opposite one. The script discusses this phenomenon, noting that women are taking on roles like combat positions in the military, and men are staying home as primary caregivers, indicating a shift towards more equal distribution of roles.

💡Stay-at-Home Dad

A stay-at-home dad is a man who takes on the primary responsibility for childcare and household duties while his partner works. The script uses this as an example to illustrate the changing dynamics in gender roles, where men are taking on roles traditionally associated with women, leading to new social situations and dilemmas.

💡Support Groups

Support groups are communities or organizations that provide assistance and resources to individuals facing similar challenges. The script points out the lack of support groups for men as they navigate the changing gender dynamics, unlike the extensive support networks that have been established for women over the years.

💡Media Portrayal

Media portrayal refers to how individuals or groups are represented in various forms of media, such as television, advertising, and film. The script criticizes the media for often portraying men as incompetent or foolish, which perpetuates stereotypes and hinders the evolution of modern masculinity. It calls for a change in narrative to better reflect and support the changing roles of men.

💡Relationship Dynamics

Relationship dynamics refer to the patterns of interaction and power within personal relationships. The script discusses how the changing economic and social roles of men and women are affecting relationship dynamics, with women often ending relationships and men needing to redefine their roles in relationships.

Highlights

Jack Myers predicts a future where men are increasingly defined, dominated, and controlled by women.

Young men are defying gender norms, being out-educated and out-earned by women.

Currently, 60% of college degrees are awarded to women, a significant shift from the 1970s.

Under 30 single, unmarried women out-earn their male counterparts by almost 20%.

Traditional gender norms are still imposed on young men despite their upbringing.

Gender roles are converging, with women taking combat roles and men staying home.

There is social confusion as people navigate new gender and marriage scripts.

Men lack the support groups and movements that women have had over the years.

Despite societal changes, men still dominate in areas such as top CEO positions and politics.

Boys are 50% more likely to be failing in math, science, and reading in high school.

A college degree's value is diminishing for men, who earn only 10% more in lifetime compared to women's 30-40%.

Younger men are open to the idea of having a spouse who earns more, reflecting societal shifts.

The barriers for women remain stubborn, despite societal progress.

There is a growing anxiety shared by both men and women regarding earning money and raising a family.

Men like Mark Zuckerberg, who take paternity leave, are becoming role models for a new generation.

Even in households where women out-earn men, women still do more housework and childcare.

There is a need to support men and create a better dynamic, especially in media portrayals.

The book 'The Future of Men' by Jack Myers addresses these issues and is available for sale.

Transcripts

Jack Myers is the author of the future

of men masculinity in the 21st century

he believed guys will quote be

increasingly defined dominated and

controlled by

women he's here you don't mind being

controlled by women do you Charlie I

don't want to be controlled by

anybody all right he's here at the table

along with CBS News contributor and New

York Times Reporter Jody kander and

she's written extensively about gender

and workplace issues good morning to

both of you Jack this is really

interesting you say that male dominant

is quickly fading how did you come to

that conclusion well it's really General

it's generational and statistically

young men are defying gender Norms uh

they're undereducated they're being out

learned by women they're being out

educated by women they're being

economically outperformed by women the

jobs that are being created now in in

the workplace are requiring college

education only uh 40% of college degrees

are going to men versus 60% going to

women which is a flip of where we were

in in the

1970s uh economically under 30 single

unmarried women are out earning single

unmarried uh childless uh men under 30

by almost 20% how does that change

generational flip right and how so how

does that change our concept of

masculinity well the this is not that

these young men are not are their

fathers they're not their grandfathers

uh young men are uh who are growing up

more more in fatherless homes uh growing

up in homes where the woman is out

earning uh her husband where they're

both working uh they're not just defying

traditional gender Norms they're not

learning traditional gender Norms so

we're but yet when they come into the

workforce when they come into their

adult years these traditional gender

Norms are still being kind of imposed on

them Jody what do you think of this what

we see in our reporting is really that

gender roles are converging more than

ever before in society whether you look

at women taking combat positions in the

military or father staying home almost

nobody is living out the kind of gender

script or marriage script that their

parents did and we find a lot of social

confusion I was once interviewing a

stay-at-home dad whose wife made a lot

of money and he confessed to me I'd

really like to buy my wife a piece of

jewelry but I can't figure out how how

much to spend because she is the one who

makes the money so we hear a lot of

everyday dilemas and people trying to

figure out this new system and and

that's St at home dad when he goes to

the party or or goes to an event with

his wife the first question he's asked

is so what do you do and that's their

greatest fear because that they're not

being supported they don't have the

support groups they don't have the 60

years of uh support that the women's

movement has had we're starting a whole

new uh generation that doesn't get the

the kind of support they need to help

them as we're moving into this new world

is they're moving into a world where

2third of all the uh is women felt for

so long that we haven't gotten the

support that we well women have had

three three uh periods of uh a women's

movement you go back 60 years and you've

had support groups being formed almost

every corporation has a women's uh group

there are no men's groups uh churches

local organizations Community groups are

not supporting men the way they're

supporting women and men are not

supporting men the way that women are

supporting women but in all the numbers

though really women maintain dominance

right men make more money women make a

you know smaller percentage um women if

you look at the top CEO list if you look

at politics kind of in every single

category actually men are doing just

fine and certainly better than women

until you get into the other under 30

and it's what I really focus on in the

book is our sons and and the trends that

we're seeing and the patterns we're

seeing and and what gener what our sons

are coming into in terms of the

opportunities they have uh they're not

they're undereducated ated they're more

likely Boys in high school are more

likely to be 50% more likely to be

failing math science and reading uh

they're less likely to get into the

colleges because they're uh economically

a college degree doesn't mean as much to

them uh they only earn 10% more in

lifetime with a college degree versus

women who are likely to earn 30 to 40%

more with a college degree so Jody we

hearing all kinds of news about how the

world is changing including more and

more people getting married later more

and more single women are becoming an

important Force how does society sort

all this out well some of it I think is

experienced as very welcome for instance

when I've interviewed younger men some

of them have been grateful and happy to

have the expectation of having a spouse

who will earn when you look at the fact

that a private school college education

costs

$250,000 now there are a lot of younger

men who don't want to ass Ser assume the

burden of providing um solely but I

think that solidad is right to point out

that the barriers to for women are

especially um stubborn in many cases and

so we've got this sort of complex dual

situation um that often ends up feeling

less like men are dominant than women

are dominant but that people are sharing

the anxiety of of earning money and

raising a family more equally than ever

before is the flip side of anxiety the

opportunity to spend time with your

children you look at someone like Mark

Zuckerberg who you know takes a

paternity leave who's kind of a role

model I don't know that there's a lot of

men his age who do that I do acknowledge

in in my book that even where both

parents are working women and and even

where the woman is out earning the men

which is in 50% or more of those homes

women are still doing more hous workor

they're still doing more child care

that's changing uh with younger

Generations but we really need to

support the men and and create a better

Dynamic and a better narrative

especially in media and advertising

which uh portrays men often as uh as

idiots buffoons Homer Simpson is most

iconic TV dad of the last 20 years uh we

really an advertising often portrays men

as not able to change the baby's diaper

pick out their own analgesic we need to

change the narrative around young men

and we need also need to create a better

sense of the man's role in a

relationship and help him understand 85%

of all heterosexual relationships at end

are ended by the woman Jack Myers Jody

caner thank you very much book's called

the future of men it goes on sale today