“Positive role models of masculinity”?
Reduction in negative messaging in movies and TV?
Anger management classes in elementary school?
Individual family situations that provide the right environment are all well and good, but there are so many people I know whose teen boys seem to go through a long period from 15 to 25 of hopelessness, confusion, anger, intensely negative world views, etc. it’s like there is nothing challenging and constructive that engages them, gives them a sense of purpose and a feeling of being needed.
Individuals may find there way, but there is a societal background level of what I would describe as blackness waiting to suck them in.. or an absence of meaningful group purpose, perhaps?
For many, the school experience seems designed to crush them into dust.
What does it mean to be a man? Some cultures have answers for that question that at least serve as a starting point.
I would also add..for those who say “better parenting”, that there is nothing more frightening than investing 15 years of your best effort to raise a child to be sensitive, responsible, educated only to find them sucked in to a dark invisible world that rejects anything light or positive. In mythological terms, Hades may capture our daughter Persephone for a season, but captures our sons for a decade. Friends tell me their boys turned normal again at 25.
I picture Norwegian youths out skiing and backpacking in Europe or Native American youths having their spirit quests. Are we lacking in rituals, group identities, economic opportunities / paths, or cultural messaging?
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