“Demonising Men Is Not A Good Strategy” - Richard Reeves

Current Status of the Feminism Movement00:00

Feminist movement is slowly realizing that demonizing or dismissing men is not a good strategy. This is happening patchily but surely. Leaders in feminist spaces are saying they need to do better for boys and men. They often frame it as good for women, but the speaker disagrees openly: care about boys and men directly, not just because it's good for women or the economy.

We should care about boys and men. I just end the sentence earlier than you.

In a piece on zero-sum empathy, argued that not caring about boys and men falling behind while complaining about no good men to date is like mating logic seppuku—creating the exact shortage of eligible partners desired. Good men are good in themselves, not just as service providers to women. Care about any group falling behind for human flourishing—a straightforward moral proposition.

Attends groups with different agendas. Melinda French Gates supports speaker and Gary Barker as part of gender equality, stating it's not good for women and girls if boys and men struggle. Reactionaries criticize her framing, but speaker says take the win—she's a global feminist supporting boys and men's work.

Speaker does not couch it conditionally. At a RECIF forum with leading women, stated American Institute for Boys and Men position clearly: care about boys and men doing better and flourishing, period. This is also good for economy, families, women—yes, of course. Women's Services Prevention Initiative tagline: when women are healthy, communities thrive. Similarly, when men are healthy, communities thrive. No need to condition it.