Why men and boys are struggling | Richard Reeves

“People warned me against writing a book about boys and men.” Richard Reeves explains the big problems facing men today – and why no one is talking about them. Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► Up next, Male inequality, explained by an expert ► To watch all of our full-length interviews, click here ► “Are men and boys in crisis? In his book “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It”, Richard Reeves, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, explores several of the key challenges facing boys and men, including the friendship recession, the evolving nature of marriage, and the gender pay gap. To Reeves, these problems are generally structural, not individual, and the interventions tried so far haven’t been very effective. The friendship recession is particularly affecting men, with the percentage of men who report having no close friends showing a fivefold increase compared to the 1990s. This social isolation can lead to numerous mental health issues and negatively impact their overall well-being. Meanwhile, marriage patterns have also shifted, creating a growing class divide, with educated couples more likely to marry and stay together than their less-educated counterparts. This divide exacerbates economic and social inequalities. Reeves argues that we ought to confront the crises facing boys and men in a deliberate and thoughtful manner. By addressing these challenges head-on, society can work toward a more equitable and inclusive future where both men and women can thrive.“ 0:00 Meet Richard Reeves 0:20 Part 1: The challenges facing boys and men 3:44 What is the education landscape like today for men and women? 8:37 How does brain development impact education? 12:46 Are boys more likely to be diagnosed with developmental disabilities? 16:59 What changes could we make to help boys in education? 18:52 Why do most men today earn less than men did 40 years ago? 22:58 Which occupations are the most gender segregated? 27:16 Which skills impact male employability? 28:50 How has fatherhood changed? 33:45 How is all of this affecting the well-being of men? 37:06 Part 2: The friendship recession 39:17 What was the traditional view of friendship? 40:47 What factors are getting in the way of people having more friends? 45:29 Why is it so hard to make friends as one gets older? 48:15 What are the negative impacts of not having friends? 50:15 Why is it beneficial to have diversity amongst your friends? 53:08 Part 3: The death of marriage 57:00 How has the concept of marriage in America changed? 1:03:12 Is marriage now more about love than necessity? 1:05:18 What is the future of marriage? 1:08:40 Part 4: The gender pay gap 1:13:24 Why is there still a pay gap for women? 1:18:36 Who else is affected by a pay gap? 1:21:14 Would you change anything about “Of Boys and Men“? 1:23:41 What do you hope to achieve with your book? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Richard Reeves: Richard V. Reeves is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he directs the Future of the Middle Class Initiative and co-directs the Center on Children and Families. His Brookings research focuses on the middle class, inequality and social mobility. Richard writes for a wide range of publications, including the New York Times, Guardian, National Affairs, The Atlantic, Democracy Journal, and Wall Street Journal. He is the author of Dream Hoarders (Brookings Institution Press, 2017), and John Stuart Mill – Victorian Firebrand (Atlantic Books, 2007), an intellectual biography of the British liberal philosopher and politician. Dream Hoarders was named a Book of the Year by The Economist, a Political Book of the Year by The Observer, and was shortlisted for the Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice. In September 2017, Politico magazine named Richard one of the top 50 thinkers in the U.S. for his work on class and inequality. A Brit-American, Richard was director of strategy to the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2012. Other previous roles include director of Demos, the London-based political think-tank; social affairs editor of the Observer; principal policy advisor to the Minister for Welfare Reform, and research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research. Richard is also a former European Business Speaker of the Year and has a BA from Oxford University and a PhD from Warwick University.