Here is a refined version of the transcript from Chris Williams’ discussion about men’s issues, drawing from Richard Reeves’ insights and broader reflections from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDMgfz-R7pA starts at minute 9:15:

One of my favorite lessons this year came from Richard Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men. Richard joined the show for the second time, and we talked for three hours about men, boys, and their roles in the modern world. He highlighted an alarming observation: men are not seen as having problems but as being the problem.

• Suicide statistics: Suicide rates among men under 30 have risen by 40% since 2010 and are four times higher than those among young women. Male suicide accounts for as many deaths as breast cancer.
• Education and economics: Men are less likely than women to attend college or own a home. They are more likely to be lonely and vulnerable to addiction. Young white men from lower-income families are doing worse than their fathers on nearly every economic and social indicator.
• Gender gap reversal: The gender gap in college enrollment and performance is now in favor of women, a reversal of the trend that led to Title IX in 1972.

Richard argues that young men aren’t rejecting gender equality—they’re turning away from the political left because they feel neglected. For example, while there are initiatives promoting women in STEM and construction, there’s no equivalent effort to encourage men to enter teaching or mental health professions. Women’s health research is prioritized, but there’s no office for men’s health. This neglect is a blind spot for progressives, which was exposed in recent elections.

Richard, who’s a measured and thoughtful researcher, frames these observations carefully. Even so, they land like a hammer blow. It’s a damning indictment of how male issues are often dismissed or overlooked.

Navigating the Conversation One challenge in addressing men’s issues is the constant need for caveats. Discussions about men’s problems often start with assurances that women also face struggles—an obligatory “land acknowledgment” for gender issues. Yet this is rarely reciprocated when talking about women’s issues. For example, no one starts a conversation about women’s challenges by pointing out that men have significantly higher suicide rates.

From 1999 to 2020, if men had taken their own lives at the same rate as women, there would be half a million more men alive today. These disparities should matter to everyone, but acknowledging them often feels like stepping into a minefield.

Another insight from my conversations this year is how rarely pro-male and pro-female activists genuinely acknowledge the struggles of the other side without comparison. The prevailing mindset seems to be a zero-sum view of empathy, where attention to one group is perceived as taking away from another. But empathy doesn’t work that way.

Instead, the conversation often devolves into “victimhood arithmetic,” as if we’re trying to calculate how many false allegations are equivalent to a sexual assault or how many female graduates are worth a male CEO. This kind of flawed, adversarial framing pushes groups apart rather than fostering understanding.

Breaking the Cycle Richard taught me an important lesson: when people don’t listen to your point, the natural reaction is to turn up the volume and intensity. If you feel ignored or dismissed, you might become a firebrand just to be heard. But that approach can backfire, entrenching division rather than building bridges.

I’ve tried to navigate these challenges thoughtfully this year. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I hope the conversations I’ve had have helped move the needle, even a little. The work is uphill, but it’s worth it.