Recently there was a report that showed far fewer men are staying in school or earning college degrees. This fact worries some sociologists who fear that men without positive career paths will lead to problems of violence in society. I heard this same fear echoed many years ago at a conference at Google where a science/tech leader worried that our movement to greater automation will leave a lot of people without good work and endeavor. This is an issue we must all think about--an issue, we can turn into an opportunity.
Young men
First, we have to ask ourselves, In society, are we taking good care of young men? I believe we can do a better job at this. Many myths of old about who young men are and what they require need to be erased from our public psyche--we have to develop young men to be the full, compassionate, caring, creative individuals they are capable of becoming. The old "boys will be boys" tough-guy mantras need to be rewritten in ways that recognize that men, like women, have a full range of emotions, interests and capabilities.
Also, we have to look at how institutions treat young men. Too often in schools and elsewhere, boys are labeled as the troublemakers. Rather than allowing that to be, we have to look for ways to engage young boys with their interests, energy and mindsets. Many schools are too passive and dull for children. Science shows us that learning is an active endeavor, not a sit-at-your-seat and be-quiet endeavor. We have to create active spaces for learning that invest children in efforts to grow, build, create, collaborate, explore and adventure. This will welcome boys and girls into an attractive spirit of learning and becoming.
Holistic endeavor
We have to look for ways to nurture people in holistic ways beginning with basic needs of shelter, clothing, food, health, camaraderie and creativity. Too often we don't ensure that children have all that they need to thrive, and when this happens, children are often fractured, broken, hurt and angry. We can do better to nurture the whole child which will in turn, nurture the whole of society too.
World of work and service
We have to rethink "work" in ways that lead to good living for all. The old-time 9-5 industrial model doesn't seem like a good fit for society anymore. Also the acceptance of tiered living with have's and have-nots doesn't seem as acceptable as in the past. Instead we have to strive for "work" patterns that ensure good living for all. What will this look like? What will be considered reasonable job expectations and just pay? How will we use time? Will there be good recreation? How will we work together to create communities that foster best possible living? We need to be creative as we rethink work expectations, lifestyles and community development.
It is a time of great change in our world--change accelerated by the pandemic. We have the ability to create living that results in happiness and fulfillment, but we will have to work together, men and women, rich and poor, old and young, north and south, east and west, to make this happen. We can do this.