Our contemporary culture has had a negative effect on fathers and a caustic effect on young men. Watch the following video to get a sense of how bad things have become for young men. Young men are not victims -they still employ their will- but they definitely need all the help they can get, particularly from their fathers. All the statistics on the following shocking video are referenced. Also, the content represented is consistent with other authors (both Christian and secular) and independent observations.
Family physician and psychologist Dr. Leonard Sax wrote “Boys Adrift” (2007), which approaches the subject from a secular perspective. The back matter of the book states:
“Something scary is happening to boys today. From kindergarten to college, American boys are, on average, less resilient and less ambitious than they were a mere twenty years ago. The gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates has widened dramatically. While Emily is working hard at school and getting A’s, her brother Justin is goofing off. He’s more concerned about getting to the next level in his videogame than about finishing his homework. Now, Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on more than twenty years of clinical experience to explain why boys and young men are failing in school and disengaged at home. He shows how social, cultural, and biological factors have created an environment that is literally toxic to boys. He also presents practical solutions, sharing strategies which educators have found effective in re-engaging these boys at school, as well as handy tips for parents about everything from homework, to videogames, to medication.”
Many authors, both secular and Christian, have been noting this phenomena for years. A recent Time magazine cover story, “Women are Overtaking Men as America’s Breadwinners. Why that’s Good for Everyone,” described the failings of young men as something we should simply accept.
The article illustrates “successful” women dating underachieving men. These women do everything from secretly stocking their boyfriends cupboards to letting them drive their cars because these men are unable to provide for themselves.
The Demise of Guys
Watch the following short video of renowned psychologist Philip Zimbardo as he further identifies the dire state of young men in our culture, particularly related to pornography and electronic stimulation:
The list goes on. Suffice to say, our young boys are in a critical situation. They need all the help they can get. Fathers need all the help they can get leading their sons to timely maturity, avoiding our culture’s extended adolescent wasteland. Malachi Man seeks to help both fathers and sons simultaneously.
Contrast this with the Biblical perspective