Online discussion of intersexual relations is, to put it mildly, tense. Every day, thousands of tweets, reels and tiktoks advise audiences, mostly of young men, to be wary of the opposite sex. Wary, in this case, meaning paranoid about all emotional entanglements. Most of this advice shares a tone of aggrieved rage. It doesn’t take long to see that a lot of men out there really, really, really don’t like women.
I would add another thought: Male mental health is, in my opinion, one of the great crises facing our society. Statistics suggest and my experience seems to confirm that women are more willing to recognize their mental health issues for what they are and seek out help, whereas for men to do so is seen as weak, effeminate, etc. Men seem to be more likely to self-medicate with alcohol or other substances rather than seeking medical care. Their unaddressed mental health needs lead to all sorts of societal ills, including violent acts against themselves and others. They are going to Andrew Tate when what they really need is a good therapist or simply a good friend. Hence, the meme that, “Men will literally do X instead of going to therapy.” So, men do need to reach out to others, not only to give, but also to receive. Beneath a lot of male chauvinism is a terror at being “found out”: at having to admit to weakness. Yet, only in such vulnerability do we develop the kind of relationships that can sustain us through lives trials. In this, the Son of God humbling himself to become a helpless baby is very instructive. The omnipotent one became weak for our sakes, submitting himself even to a humiliating death. In such weakness, we are strong.
I would add another thought: Male mental health is, in my opinion, one of the great crises facing our society. Statistics suggest and my experience seems to confirm that women are more willing to recognize their mental health issues for what they are and seek out help, whereas for men to do so is seen as weak, effeminate, etc. Men seem to be more likely to self-medicate with alcohol or other substances rather than seeking medical care. Their unaddressed mental health needs lead to all sorts of societal ills, including violent acts against themselves and others. They are going to Andrew Tate when what they really need is a good therapist or simply a good friend. Hence, the meme that, “Men will literally do X instead of going to therapy.” So, men do need to reach out to others, not only to give, but also to receive. Beneath a lot of male chauvinism is a terror at being “found out”: at having to admit to weakness. Yet, only in such vulnerability do we develop the kind of relationships that can sustain us through lives trials. In this, the Son of God humbling himself to become a helpless baby is very instructive. The omnipotent one became weak for our sakes, submitting himself even to a humiliating death. In such weakness, we are strong.