Men are not the enemy.
In the span of a few short decades, America has managed to demote its men from respected providers and protectors of the family to superfluous buffoons.
“Name a sitcom from 1970 forward that depicts a strong, responsible, intelligent father figure. Fathers in sitcoms are good-hearted, but they are also depicted as immature, dumb, lazy and incompetent. Do we seriously believe this drumbeat of messages has no impact?” writes New York Times reader Allan Bird.
It has major impact. Today’s sitcoms, and commercials, routinely paint a portrait of the idiot husband whose wife is smarter and more capable than he. Ward Cleaver is long gone. So is Cliff Huxtable, The Cosby Show’s enlightened but successful father of five. In their place is The New Dad: unemployed, unaware, and thoroughly emasculated.
What on earth happened?
Women’s role in society has changed dramatically, no question. And this does alter the dynamics between men and women. But female ambition, in and of itself, isn’t threatening to men.
“Men know women are powerful, and we don’t mind that one bit. It empowers us that you’re empowered,” writes clinical psychiatrist Paul Dobransky, M.D. “Unless, that is, you disempower us in order to feel empowered.”
And there it is.
It's time to end this war on men.