Has Culture Outgrown Men?
By: Laura Bennett
In a society that seems to be changing faster than ever, author and CPX Executive Director Simon Smart thinks these cultural shifts are eroding our sense of identity, leaving many people – especially men – looking for new anchor points to hold onto.
Simon reflects on what it means to be a man in today’s complex social landscape.
“The speed of social and technological shifts is bewildering,” Simon said.
“It’s quite disorientating, actually.”
Simon’s book The End of Men, looks at how shifting social norms are reshaping what it means to be male.
“[Growing up] I experienced two vividly contrasting all-male environments,” Simon said.
“One was very healthy and wholesome, and one really wasn’t.
“It made me think deeply about how we create environments where young men grow into the kind of people you want to be around.”
Simon believes that modern expectations can leave many men confused.
“We’ve still got the traditional picture of masculinity – the independent, emotionally detached, risk-taking male,” he said.
“At the same time, society now values emotional intelligence and social connection. Those two pictures are overlapping, and it’s creating tension and uncertainty for a lot of young guys.”
So what makes a healthy model of manhood today? For Simon, it’s about broadening the picture.
“We need to celebrate the full range of what it means to be human,” Simon said.
“That includes strength and courage, but also compassion, service and emotional engagement.”
He’s convinced that role models and mentors play a key role.
“Young men won’t just automatically know how to be good men,” Simon said.
“They have to be shown. It takes intention and guidance.”
Irrespective of your theological views, Simon thinks Jesus is a model of manhood we can all value.
“[Jesus lived] against a backdrop that was incredibly patriarchal, that was incredibly brutal when it came to imposition of power over weakness,” Simon said.
“He comes in and sort of upends everything [and shows] true greatness, according to Jesus, looks like washing the feet of the people around you.
“He put himself in positions where he knew he’d find challenge, but he refused violence.
“He engaged with enemies with a kind of determination, clarity, good thinking, but a kind of loving embrace and an embrace of people who are on the edges.”
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
Feature image: Canva
