What Does "Respect" Mean to Men?

from Innovating Masculinity Hosted by Davide Pace

Young men, and men in general, don’t feel valued and respected. In a study on male suicides, experts found that men cited feeling “worthless” and “useless” as the top reasons for choosing to take their own life. But why aren’t men feeling respected? Is there something structural lurking beneath the surface of these tragedies? I don’t know everything about what makes men feel respected, but I know that feeling valuable in our professional lives and our close relationships are both big factors. Unfortunately for modern men, both job competence and emotional connection are becoming harder and harder. According to work by Brookings Institute researcher Richard Reaves, many respectable “male-dominated” professions, like construction, trades, and manufacturing, are considered “less than” when compared to white-collar jobs. On top of that, they're also disappearing due to automation. Emotional connection is foreign to many men because of the way we’re socialized, and few options are available to help guys develop strong relationships with themselves, their loved ones, and their communities. Men still cause problems I’m not somehow saying men are suddenly the victims, but I am saying we’re facing unique struggles. And helping men solve those struggles will lead to fewer problems. Whether we need to pursue different sources of professional fulfillment or do some serious self-work to build stronger relationships, something has to change. Tune into this episode to hear my thoughts on how men can take action to change today.