On one of my days off last week I took the time to make a proper breakfast, watch a meaningful movie and then proceeded to finish one of the many novels I intended to complete.The day wasn't taken over by video games, which I must admit is one of my favourite past times in the last couple of years. At the end of the day I felt accomplished and filled with optimism, my ambition and zeal to check the boxes on my to-do list became extremely relevant. I didn't fall prey to unproductive activities and seeing how my mood was low, I was somewhat proud of myself.
I tend to give myself pep talks words whenever I hit low times but I can remember my brother's words whenever that happens, "you're a man."
A man I am, yes and my brother was never the typical egotistical male, a character reminiscent of jock villains from 1980's teen flicks. I think he was preaching that I should be stoic and stand my ground. At times I did, while other times the ground felt like it was slipping away right beneath my feet.That slippage, I am afraid may be happening to men on a grander scale, I think boys and young men are losing ground. What type of ground you ask, well, when you enter a library on any given day, I can guarantee you that, girls will out-number guys. And don't even bother mentioning tertiary education, I can remember when I was in college there were three females to every male in every class. Then there's the workplace, granted there are some jobs that are gender specific no matter how politically correct we want to be. There will always be more female nurses and more male fire-fighters due the nature of the job and the innate qualities they possess- which in some cases have been popularized by society.
Barring those cases, women are excelling faster than men, don't get me wrong I am all for women holding their own. But I am just baffled and somehow saddened by the current trend.
An article in the Wall Street Journal in April 2012 asserted that "More Women Are Primed to Land CEO Roles." Although women are still few in chief executive roles at just 35 Fortune 1000 companies the pipeline shows promise.
If there was ever a role, one thing is for sure, it's changing as CNN Money discovered that more men are staying home to take care of their children. Well, this is besides the point but my concern is the lack of stimulation and drive among young men.
In a symposium presented at the American Psychological Association conference in Honolulu several experts in the field of psychology met to discuss "The Demise of Guys."
They suggested that many teen boys and young men are "dropping out" of society and are spending too much time watching TV, in on-line gaming, and watching porn.
The presenters argued that gaming and porn creates a man seeking constant stimulation that puts them at a disadvantage in traditional classroom settings. This coupled with the need for instant gratification, as hyperbolic as it may sound puts boys at risk.
This lack of face-to-face contact the experts say results in a decline in interpersonal and dating skills of men. A compliant which I must admit is the general topic of discussion among many women in sour relationships.
We need men possessing strong interpersonal skills as this is one of the key elements in becoming a leader.
This is by no means disregarding girls as they too have their risk factors in society but this is merely an observation that I believe needs attention. Yes, population wise, women are slightly higher in numbers than men but women outdoing their male counterparts aren't a fair reflection of the population. Don't bash me, I loved the Power Puff Girls but I'm just saying the guys need to step up and women will admit this, we need to make better men.
The odds are stacked against us, with the rise of gals, plus changing family dynamics and media influences it doesn't look good. Not to mention environmentally generated physiological changes that decrease testosterone and increase estrogen we are in no place to call women the weaker sex. And the challenging economy also injects its fair share of depression among men.
The fix? Boys need strong role models and guidance; parents need to get their children off-line, and into social interaction. Learning to communicate well and understanding the value of work and the value of longevity. Building a strong positive mind in a teenage boy can usher in proud moments as he goes through the various phases in life.
