Is it Really the End of Men?

Guest post by Chris Kyle

We’ve been keeping up with what the media has been saying lately about us men. The information and opinions being laid out boil down to this:
Are men ready to take a hard look at redefining what it means to be a man in today’s world?  Are men falling behind in this rapidly changing world, and can they adapt and grow to meet the challenges ahead?

Check out the titles of these feature articles in two large international magazines to get a flavor of what is being said about men (including the Cover Story for last month’s Newsweek):

The Atlantic — “The End of Men?” (Jul/Aug 2010)
Newsweek — “Man Up! Men’s Lib” (Sep 2010)

The stark reality is the world is changing so rapidly it’s hard to keep up with the pace of change – for both men and women. In the most recent economic downturn, however, we men lost more jobs and had a larger decrease in real income than at any time in the last 70 years. The numbers and the facts speak loudly: men are struggling to redefine their role in this new emerging economy and women in general are adapting faster.

Here’s a poweful and essentially inflammatory quote from the Atlantic:

“…Women live longer than men. They do better in this economy. More of them graduate from college. They go into space and do everything men do, and sometimes they do it a whole lot better. I mean, hell, get out of the way–these females are going to leave us males in the dust.” (The Atlantic)

As a man I’ve asked myself: what is it that women are doing so much differently than us men? Are they trying harder? Are they more talented? Are they better learners? The answer for me is “no”. But the thing we as men have yet to understand fully that women have figured out is how to truly work together and support each other… to learn, to grow and to adapt as a man in a community of men.

I’m ready to explore what it really means to be a man today — to take a deep look at redefining masculinity in our times. I know many men who are asking the same question: what’s next for me as a man now…?  I am heartened by so many men that I know who are willing to explore these bigger questions about being a man and the new emerging masculinity without shame, embarrasment or fear. Let’s keep the conversation rolling….  Chris Kyle

Chris is the founder of the Ascendant Company an organization dedicated to helping men succeed in all areas of their lives.