A Man’s World #1: Where Is The Advocacy?

Young men are falling behind more than any other group right now. Women are surpassing men at faster rates than ever before. Women exceling is not a bad thing. It is a very good thing. It is important. My point is not to devalue that. My point is that there needs to be a specific focus on our young men as they are falling behind faster each day.

Have you seen an affinity group or an employee resource group for young men at your school or your workplace? I haven’t. Have you seen an affinity group for young white men at your school or at your workplace? I haven’t. There are so many types of groups for all different types of people including women, the black community, and the lgbtq+ community. Again, this is not to say those groups are not important. They are. My point is, why is there not a group for young men and specifically young white men, anywhere?

Who is advocating for us? Do you see either party advocating for us? I don’t. Do you feel you are able to speak up at school and vouch for youself? Do you feel you are able to speak up at work and vouch for yourself? I think not to both of those.

I’ve been in numerous conferences and calls and have heard things like: women are so important to the workforce because of this, the black community is so important to the workforce because of this, and the lgbtq+ community is so important to the workforce because of that. I heard the same conversations when I was in Undergrad and heard the same conversations when I was in Grad school.

I have never heard and have yet to hear anyone speak about men. Never. Not once. What if someone spoke up and said based on the data men are so important to the workforce because of this stat or that stat? You would have an uproar. It would be immediately shut down. That’s not an assumption, that’s a fact. I personally tried myself and was dehumanized by a professor in a class.

I go home and talk to family members and they say “Well, you can’t say that, you’re a man, you’re privileged.” Like what? Every outlet a man goes to he hits a major pot hole. It’s sad and it’s a shame. I’ve even heard men try to speak up and when they speak up they are told “Well, you’re a man you put yourself in this situation.”

It’s such a delusional way of thinking and it’s really hurting us.

Think about this scenario. You have a young man that is a college graduate. He works 40 hours a week. Every date he goes on he gets rejected. His parents just got divorced. He has no male role model. He gets caught up in missinformation. He starts drinking heavily. He feels that he has no purpose. Where do we think this man ends up? By the data, he most likely ends up taking his life.

Continue to advocate for yourself and your friends. Continue to search for mentors and role models. Continue to let your voice be heard. Don’t let others bring you down and make you feel like you are the crazy one. I am hear for you. I will speak for you. I will advocate for you.

Be Well, Stay Young.