This is the heart of the troubles modern Western society is facing. It creates the weak men/hard times phase of the cultural cycle. Coupled with the Cluster B personality disorder so prevalent in the bureaucratic, managerial progressive mindset, it explains so much of where we've strayed from the sense of individualism and risk acceptance that once allowed America to grow and thrive. I truly believe it will be our downfall if it is not expunged from our culture.
I read this as an expression of everything I've wished to say but lacked the capacity to express so clearly. Thank you.
It’s a wild ride, Josh(Joshua?). I’ve been writing about this stuff for a while now but, for the first time, I’m starting to feel a bit hopeful. Perhaps I’m naive.
Talking about the weak men/hard times cycle—I’ve got a series of essays on my Substack called Hard Times (they’re the ones in the ManPsych section). I think you’ll like them. Let me know what you think.
Thank you for the essay. As a licensed therapist I often think I'm at odds with my profession. This may be why the majority of my clientele are men. I do not mollycoddle them. I will challenge & confront behavior that does not appear to be serving my clients. I let them know that's part of my approach from the get-go. Most tell me that's what they are seeking. Some move on – c'est la vie. I hope & pray those few get the help they need. My goal is to help my clients become more resilient.
Couple this culture with legislation that communicates to gun owners that they'll lose their rights for seeking help, and it's suddenly really obvious why males who shoot themselves are the largest suicide demographic.
We have to do a better job of balancing demographics and attitudes in this profession (and it starts by not accusing men of being "privileged" or whatever in graduate schools) or else we're going to see a lot more unnecessary death through sheer care avoidance.
Jake, you’re right. Balance is key. I’m working on that to the degree that I’m capable of via writing and interviews. I’ve been surprised by a good amount of folks in the field being fairly receptive. Not all though. My concern is always that society doesn’t tend to correct—it overcorrects.
The only path forward is getting rid of blank-slatism, combatting sex-difference denialism, and being willing to be called names along the way. Thanks for reading.
I have to believe that in the course of these conversations we'll uncover more people who align with the idea that the pendulum has swung too far. The real oppression, however, is in the form of threats (some real, some perceived) to punish individuals for failing to conform to the ideology. That may look like Title IX or HR complaints, or even licensing board sanctions.
How we galvanize against this I have no idea because as long as individuals are afraid to speak up (or out) the rest of us just look like shrieking lunatics.
I found the email address of the Congressional DOGE caucus. It is doge@mail.house.gov. I mentioned how feminists in Congress obtained funding for women's issues, but ignored male issues. I suggested that one remedy would be to split funding for women's issues in half, and allocate it to programs for men, or simply cut funding for women's programs that are in excess of funding for men's programs.
"I’m working on a series of essays called Sugar & Spice: The Feminization of Human Psychology and I don’t expect it to make me any friends."
I am not sure about friends, but you definitely have a reader for these series if they are as thoughtful as this one. I am a female psychologist and an agreeable one at that, but even as a female professional with above average agreeableness, I feel the one-sidedness you are describing becoming a nit so constructive culture force
"the elevation of feelings to a state of primacy rather than pathology?"
This has happened with gender dysphoria and transexualism. People have mutilated their bodies for no reason. They call it "gender-affirming care". They claim it will make people "feel better". No amount of body mutilation will result in positive outcomes. It is complete madness. Yet it persists and has damaged many lives. It's similar to lobotomies.
This is the heart of the troubles modern Western society is facing. It creates the weak men/hard times phase of the cultural cycle. Coupled with the Cluster B personality disorder so prevalent in the bureaucratic, managerial progressive mindset, it explains so much of where we've strayed from the sense of individualism and risk acceptance that once allowed America to grow and thrive. I truly believe it will be our downfall if it is not expunged from our culture.
I read this as an expression of everything I've wished to say but lacked the capacity to express so clearly. Thank you.
It’s a wild ride, Josh(Joshua?). I’ve been writing about this stuff for a while now but, for the first time, I’m starting to feel a bit hopeful. Perhaps I’m naive.
Talking about the weak men/hard times cycle—I’ve got a series of essays on my Substack called Hard Times (they’re the ones in the ManPsych section). I think you’ll like them. Let me know what you think.
Thank you for the essay. As a licensed therapist I often think I'm at odds with my profession. This may be why the majority of my clientele are men. I do not mollycoddle them. I will challenge & confront behavior that does not appear to be serving my clients. I let them know that's part of my approach from the get-go. Most tell me that's what they are seeking. Some move on – c'est la vie. I hope & pray those few get the help they need. My goal is to help my clients become more resilient.
Couple this culture with legislation that communicates to gun owners that they'll lose their rights for seeking help, and it's suddenly really obvious why males who shoot themselves are the largest suicide demographic.
We have to do a better job of balancing demographics and attitudes in this profession (and it starts by not accusing men of being "privileged" or whatever in graduate schools) or else we're going to see a lot more unnecessary death through sheer care avoidance.
Jake, you’re right. Balance is key. I’m working on that to the degree that I’m capable of via writing and interviews. I’ve been surprised by a good amount of folks in the field being fairly receptive. Not all though. My concern is always that society doesn’t tend to correct—it overcorrects.
The only path forward is getting rid of blank-slatism, combatting sex-difference denialism, and being willing to be called names along the way. Thanks for reading.
I have to believe that in the course of these conversations we'll uncover more people who align with the idea that the pendulum has swung too far. The real oppression, however, is in the form of threats (some real, some perceived) to punish individuals for failing to conform to the ideology. That may look like Title IX or HR complaints, or even licensing board sanctions.
How we galvanize against this I have no idea because as long as individuals are afraid to speak up (or out) the rest of us just look like shrieking lunatics.
I found the email address of the Congressional DOGE caucus. It is doge@mail.house.gov. I mentioned how feminists in Congress obtained funding for women's issues, but ignored male issues. I suggested that one remedy would be to split funding for women's issues in half, and allocate it to programs for men, or simply cut funding for women's programs that are in excess of funding for men's programs.
"I’m working on a series of essays called Sugar & Spice: The Feminization of Human Psychology and I don’t expect it to make me any friends."
I am not sure about friends, but you definitely have a reader for these series if they are as thoughtful as this one. I am a female psychologist and an agreeable one at that, but even as a female professional with above average agreeableness, I feel the one-sidedness you are describing becoming a nit so constructive culture force
Check out the Mankind Project.
"the elevation of feelings to a state of primacy rather than pathology?"
This has happened with gender dysphoria and transexualism. People have mutilated their bodies for no reason. They call it "gender-affirming care". They claim it will make people "feel better". No amount of body mutilation will result in positive outcomes. It is complete madness. Yet it persists and has damaged many lives. It's similar to lobotomies.
C.B.
That first story was badass