Young Men Discouraged From Science

[jp11]

13. What?

How is what has been 'standard' discouraging them?

Even during the sputnik era it was the fighter/experimental pilots who were championed and became the astronauts ie 'rockstars'. The 'nerds' were relegated to building the technology etc and while needed not celebrated as the astronauts.

For years/decades/centuries it has been the stereotype alpha male that is encouraged, from society to fathers wanting sons to 'be proud of'. The son who spent time in the lab was often the 'shame' of the family over the footballer or jock. Only in more recent decades has there been more of an acceptance or understanding that intellectualism among men isn't a weakness though you might not know this from pop culture.

If women are surpassing men in college, and they have been for a while, it has been because men have 'accepted' the stereotype that they need to be 'mindless' or that applying themselves to academics or other skilled training programs wasn't manly. We could also guess it might be because many are out to prove themselves by becoming 'earners' to prove their worth as mates as they have been pressured to do so for so long. Many doing this only to be surpassed by women going to college and getting an education and better careers making more money and often looking down on those men who didn't go to college.

While women have become more liberated and applied themselves to casting off their stereotype roles of homemakers and wives serving their men the same is often not true of men. Many of whom still see a 'need' or 'desire' to be the 'breadwinner' not just for their own egos but to show their worth and making the 'mistake' of thinking they can do that absent post secondary education.

While I agree men have been and are still often portrayed as being stupid/rude as well as being considered less than women, ie death objects, it isn't the sole reason they don't apply themselves towards academics. To impress women, gain their freedom, prove their 'manliness' many men will jump into the workforce for short term financial gains over staying 'dependent' and going to school/etc.