The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

David Brooks Advocates the Total Wussification of American Men

Posted on | February 17, 2010 | 21 Comments

Revenge of the wuss:

The gap between the male and female unemployment rates has reached its highest level since the government began keeping such records. . . .
[L]ast November nearly a fifth of all men between 25 and 54 did not have jobs, the highest figure since the labor bureau began counting in 1948. . . .
For decades, men have adapted poorly to the shifting demands of the service economy. Now they are paying the price. . . .
First, we need to redefine masculinity, creating an image that encourages teenage boys to stay in school and older men to pursue service jobs. Evangelical churches have done a lot to show how manly men can still be nurturing. Obviously, more needs to be done, and schools need to be more boy-friendly. . . .

Oh, great. You hear that, guys? If you’re out of a job, it’s your fault. But don’t worry: You’re all going to get jobs as “nuturing counselors” and Starbucks clerks.

Category: David Brooks Fisking Day

Comments

21 Responses to “David Brooks Advocates the Total Wussification of American Men”

  1. Joe
    February 17th, 2010 @ 1:18 pm

    Little pink shirts for you and me…

    Which reminds me, guess who the left is pushing to run for Bayh’s seat?

  2. Joe
    February 17th, 2010 @ 8:18 am

    Little pink shirts for you and me…

    Which reminds me, guess who the left is pushing to run for Bayh’s seat?

  3. Joe
    February 17th, 2010 @ 1:20 pm

    Maybe they are hiring more women so they can pay them less?

  4. Joe
    February 17th, 2010 @ 8:20 am

    Maybe they are hiring more women so they can pay them less?

  5. Chris Mallory
    February 17th, 2010 @ 2:14 pm

    Of course little David Brooks wants a nation of neutered men. That way he can look manly next to them.

  6. Chris Mallory
    February 17th, 2010 @ 9:14 am

    Of course little David Brooks wants a nation of neutered men. That way he can look manly next to them.

  7. Brandon Kiser
    February 17th, 2010 @ 9:18 am

    I think that may be a little unfair.

    Refusing to redefine what being a man is does not change the fact that the world is changing around it.

    Nowadays, kids need to stay in school through college because there will be less and less successful opportunities without it.

    “Service jobs” are more than Starbucks clerks and counseling it’s being a teacher, a business owner, anything is within the realm of possibilities.

  8. Brandon Kiser
    February 17th, 2010 @ 2:18 pm

    I think that may be a little unfair.

    Refusing to redefine what being a man is does not change the fact that the world is changing around it.

    Nowadays, kids need to stay in school through college because there will be less and less successful opportunities without it.

    “Service jobs” are more than Starbucks clerks and counseling it’s being a teacher, a business owner, anything is within the realm of possibilities.

  9. Mark L Harvey (aka Snooper)
    February 17th, 2010 @ 2:37 pm

    David Brooks. Educated beyond his intelligence.

    http://bit.ly/cNMhPi

  10. Mark L Harvey (aka Snooper)
    February 17th, 2010 @ 9:37 am

    David Brooks. Educated beyond his intelligence.

    http://bit.ly/cNMhPi

  11. Roxeanne de Luca
    February 17th, 2010 @ 2:49 pm

    When I read “service jobs,” I was confused and wanted to know why Stacy thought that serving in the armed forces was for wusses.

    Thanks, Brandon, for clearing that one up.

  12. Roxeanne de Luca
    February 17th, 2010 @ 9:49 am

    When I read “service jobs,” I was confused and wanted to know why Stacy thought that serving in the armed forces was for wusses.

    Thanks, Brandon, for clearing that one up.

  13. pH
    February 17th, 2010 @ 5:28 pm

    I’m no fan of David Brooks, but I think he makes a valid point here. The age of early industrialism is over: men are no longer required to be, in large proportion, manual-labouring “tough guys.” It should be seen equally as “manly” for an man to support himself or his family as, say, a law clerk as it should for one to do so as, say, a roughneck.

    I mean, c’mon, “freelance newspaper reporter,” even if as badass as yourself, is not, by any means, a particularly classically “manly” profession…you are clearly highly educated, and you clearly took a decision to stay in school post-high-school-graduation rather than go to a vocational school or simply join the workforce.

    I think all he’s saying is that choices like your own are admirable and make you no less of a man than the individual who dropped out of school in the 11th grade to become a hardassed repo man or a steelworker.

  14. pH
    February 17th, 2010 @ 12:28 pm

    I’m no fan of David Brooks, but I think he makes a valid point here. The age of early industrialism is over: men are no longer required to be, in large proportion, manual-labouring “tough guys.” It should be seen equally as “manly” for an man to support himself or his family as, say, a law clerk as it should for one to do so as, say, a roughneck.

    I mean, c’mon, “freelance newspaper reporter,” even if as badass as yourself, is not, by any means, a particularly classically “manly” profession…you are clearly highly educated, and you clearly took a decision to stay in school post-high-school-graduation rather than go to a vocational school or simply join the workforce.

    I think all he’s saying is that choices like your own are admirable and make you no less of a man than the individual who dropped out of school in the 11th grade to become a hardassed repo man or a steelworker.

  15. Bradley Freeto
    February 17th, 2010 @ 5:34 pm

    The decline in male employment in white collar jobs has coincided with the ascendency of Human Resources–specifically with HR’s near total control over the hiring process.

    “Human Resources” is a chicks “profession.” In the internet age, HR has become a tyrannical gatekeeper, controlling which resumes/CV’s a hiring manager is allowed to see.

    Women control the hiring process. Should there be any surprise that many offices are becoming hen houses?

  16. Bradley Freeto
    February 17th, 2010 @ 12:34 pm

    The decline in male employment in white collar jobs has coincided with the ascendency of Human Resources–specifically with HR’s near total control over the hiring process.

    “Human Resources” is a chicks “profession.” In the internet age, HR has become a tyrannical gatekeeper, controlling which resumes/CV’s a hiring manager is allowed to see.

    Women control the hiring process. Should there be any surprise that many offices are becoming hen houses?

  17. Mark J. Goluskin
    February 17th, 2010 @ 7:19 pm

    The correct title of this post should be the Pussification of American Men. But, this is a family blog, right?!

  18. Mark J. Goluskin
    February 17th, 2010 @ 2:19 pm

    The correct title of this post should be the Pussification of American Men. But, this is a family blog, right?!

  19. DYSPEPSIA GENERATION » Blog Archive » Why Househusbands Are the Future
    February 17th, 2010 @ 9:22 pm

    […] The Other McCain, of course, reacts appropriately. […]

  20. Rich Fader
    February 19th, 2010 @ 6:11 pm

    Okay, I’m amused at the thought that David Brooks has been in, or even within restraining-order distance of, an evangelical church, except in passing.

  21. Rich Fader
    February 19th, 2010 @ 1:11 pm

    Okay, I’m amused at the thought that David Brooks has been in, or even within restraining-order distance of, an evangelical church, except in passing.