This is yet another editorial that rehashes cliches about "toxic masculinity" and the "loneliness epidemic." Not to say these cliches don't have a basis in reality, but let's remember that this is an editorial whose purpose is to drive sales of the guest author's book.
The author, Ruth Whippman, is a "current affairs" journalist and documentary maker. In other words, she has made a career of picking trending pop-psychology topics and writing fluff commentary on them. Her books have subtitles like "Why are we driving ourselves crazy and how can we stop?"
Having said this, one pattern in how adult men behave emerges very clearly, at least to me, living in a middle-class US suburb. Men don't have a habit of building community. Women do.
For example, my suburb and neighboring ones have subreddit communities. Those subs regularly get posts from new arrivals who have trouble finding friends.
On average, female posters mostly get responses from other women, and most of the responses are about making plans to exchange contacts, get together as a group, and try activities together.
On average, male posters get grouchy responses from other men telling them that they aren't trying hard enough or creatively enough.
Women in my area have built social organizations that reach out to female newcomers and try to pair them up with other women looking for activity partners. Men have not.
If you're a man living in the suburbs and don't like "man" things (sports, cars, hunting and/or fishing in the South), you're in for a very rough time. 2x difficulty if you don't have kids.
The author, Ruth Whippman, is a "current affairs" journalist and documentary maker. In other words, she has made a career of picking trending pop-psychology topics and writing fluff commentary on them. Her books have subtitles like "Why are we driving ourselves crazy and how can we stop?"
Having said this, one pattern in how adult men behave emerges very clearly, at least to me, living in a middle-class US suburb. Men don't have a habit of building community. Women do.
For example, my suburb and neighboring ones have subreddit communities. Those subs regularly get posts from new arrivals who have trouble finding friends.
On average, female posters mostly get responses from other women, and most of the responses are about making plans to exchange contacts, get together as a group, and try activities together.
On average, male posters get grouchy responses from other men telling them that they aren't trying hard enough or creatively enough.
Women in my area have built social organizations that reach out to female newcomers and try to pair them up with other women looking for activity partners. Men have not.