5 hours Ago By Rose-osullivan
Young men are in trouble, and we can’t ignore it any longer. A generation of boys is falling behind – academically, socially, and economically – in a world that’s changing faster than they can adapt.I was reminded of this last weekend, when a report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) laid bare the challenges young men face, from early education to the workplace.
It painted a troubling picture of a lost generation.At first, I didn’t notice this change. However, lately, it’s hard to miss – symptoms crop up daily in headlines and seep into conversations with close friends.
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addToArray({"pos": "inread-hb-ros-inews"}); }According to the CSJ’s research, boys are lagging behind in school, struggling with their mental health, and being drawn into the darkest corners of the internet, where misogyny and radicalisation thrive. And when it comes to work, young men are far more likely to be unemployed than their female peers.Boys fall behind from the moment they enter school.
On average, they score half a grade lower than girls in every GCSE subject. By A-levels, they are outscored by over a grade and a half across their best three subjects.#color-context-related-article-3524156 {--inews-color-primary: #3759B7;--inews-color-secondary: #EFF2FA;--inews-color-tertiary: #3759B7;} Read Next square LUCY MANGAN What I learnt about feminism from raising a sonRead MoreMore young men than ever are unemployed, with the number of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, work, or training rising by 40 per cent since the pandemic, compared to just 7 per cent for women.
Male-dominated industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and construction, once the backbone of the economy, now account for just 16 per cent of GDP, down from over 40 per cent in 1970. if(window.adverts) { window.
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adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l1"}); }While overall unemployment remains low, the secure, well-paid jobs once available to non-university educated young men are disappearing. Research shows that when men are unemployed or earn less than women, it affects not just their mental health, but their relationships too.
The CSJ claims the UK is suffering from “an epidemic of fatherlessness”, as 2.5 million children have no father figure at home. This has been shown to have a huge impact on mental health, yet boys are more likely to own a smartphone than to live with their dad.
Being so close with my father, I can imagine how difficult my life would have been without his guidance over the years.Then there’s social media, where young men are shaped by algorithms pushing misogynistic influencers, extremist rhetoric, and warped ideals of masculinity. Pornography is rewiring teenage boys’ understanding of sex and relationships, with the average child now exposed to it by age 13.
Sam Fender’s lyrics from “Seventeen Going Under” capture it best: “That’s the thing with anger, it begs to stick around, so it can fleece you of your beauty and leave you spent with nowt to offer.” His music speaks to a generation of young men who are angry, disconnected, and struggling to find a place for themselves in a world they feel has moved on without them.If we let young men fall through the cracks, we create a future where resentment festers, misogyny thrives, and women are left to deal with the fallout.
The data doesn’t lie: young men are increasingly drawn to right-wing, traditionalist ideologies, while young women lean more progressive.The divide between the sexes is growing wider, and that’s exactly what figures like Andrew Tate and the far right thrive on – an “us versus them” mentality, where one must succeed at the expense of the other.if(window.
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adverts) { window.adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l2"}); }But feminism didn’t rise by tearing men down, and helping men now doesn’t mean halting women’s progress.
Elevating one group should never mean suppressing another.#color-context-related-article-3489302 {--inews-color-primary: #3759B7;--inews-color-secondary: #EFF2FA;--inews-color-tertiary: #3759B7;} Read Next square IAN BIRRELL There's only one way we can stop young men lurching to the hard rightRead MoreIf we want to stop this downward spiral, we need to face some uncomfortable truths. Patriarchy hasn’t just failed women – it’s failed men too.
It gave them a free pass in a system that once guaranteed their place, but now the world has changed.So what do we do? We start by listening. By taking this seriously and understanding that fixing it is in everyone’s best interest.
We need to address the failures in education and break the toxic cycles that push men into extremism.It means championing role models like Sam Fender, who speaks to working-class boys about anger, masculinity, and hope. But it’s not just about high-profile figures.
Men at all levels need to step up by listening, mentoring, and guiding younger people who are struggling. We need them to demonstrate that seeking help isn’t weakness, but strength. By offering support and breaking the cycle of silence, they can help create a culture where it’s okay to be vulnerable and ask for help.
More than ever, we need to look at how our schools are set up and how boys are socialised within them. Not everyone wants to be the “tough” guy – we have to redefine what masculinity is in its truest sense.And for women? As mothers, sisters, and partners we have to come to this with an open mind and heart.
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addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l3"}); }Women fought for change and made progress. It’s time for society to tackle these issues facing young men. Not because we owe it to them, but because a stronger generation of men leads to a stronger society overall.
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