A Perspective:
In a shift that reflects a cultural resistance to gender ideology and a pushback against trends perceived as undermining traditional male identity, young men are increasingly turning to more conservative ideas. According to Peter Copeland, the deputy director of domestic policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, this shift is an act of defiance rooted in belief in sexual difference and healthy masculinity.
In his opinion article, Copeland emphasizes that these young men see embracing conservatism as a way to affirm biological and social distinctions between the sexes and advocate for a notion of masculinity grounded in health and reality, rather than ideological constructs. This ideological stance arises amid broader societal debates on gender identity and sexuality, where conservative positions often challenge the dominant cultural narratives.
The reasons for this shift are manifold. Young men are seeking a society that values masculine virtues and doesn't treat them as liabilities. They yearn for a masculinity that embodies strength and service. At the same time, they perceive the narcissism and alienation that result from liberal expressive individualism as a problem.
Moreover, the obsession with liberal expressive individualism has led to issues such as helicopter parenting, safetyism, cancel culture, and ever more infantilized boys. The progressive social order has given rise to anxiety, loneliness, mental-health crises, family breakdown, and spiritual emptiness. In contrast, conservatives and those who maintain religious beliefs consistently report greater well-being.
Women too, are experiencing mental distress and lower life satisfaction than their mothers and grandmothers, possibly due to the influence of progressive feminism. It is important for progressives to recognize the yearnings of many young men and respond accordingly.
Aging population and declining birth rates are issues in the current society. Society needs a masculinity that embodies strength and service, and young men are seeking this in conservative ideologies. The strongest men are emotionally attuned, sacrificial, and loving, and young men need a society that values these masculine virtues.
In conclusion, the shift towards conservatism among young men is a response to cultural trends that they perceive as undermining traditional male identity and roles. This ideological stance is grounded in a belief in sexual difference and healthy masculinity, and it represents a search for a society that values masculine virtues and offers a healthier and more authentic framework for understanding male identity in contemporary society.
- In the realm of media, Copeland's opinion piece discusses the cultural resistance among young men, shifting towards more conservative ideas and their affiliation with traditional masculinity.
- The news has reported an increase in young men advocating for conservatism as a means to affirm sexual differences and promote a reality-based masculinity, contrasting ideological constructs.
- According to Copeland, this trend reflects broader societal debates on gender identity and sexuality where conservative positions often challenge dominant cultural narratives, particularly in Canada.
- In Toronto and beyond, young men seek a society that values masculine virtues like strength and service, rather than viewing these qualities as liabilities.
- Health and wellness, including mental health, are crucial concerns for both young men and women in today's society, with conservative ideologies offering a different approach from liberal expressive individualism.
- Progressive social orders have been linked to increased anxiety, loneliness, mental-health crises, and spiritual emptiness, prompting some to question the long-term consequences of such ideologies.
- The conservative focus on family health, parenting, and education-and-self-development attractions many young men who desire a healthier and more authentic understanding of male identity.
- Against the backdrop of debates on law and policy, the shift towards conservatism among young men emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, sacrifice, and love as vital masculine qualities.
- In the realm of culture and lifestyle, the growing distrust of liberal expressive individualism has led to concerns about issues such as helicopter parenting, safetyism, and cancel culture.
- Young men, burdened by the perceived problems of liberal expressive individualism, embrace conservatism as a means to establish a stronger, healthier, and more meaningful identity, both for themselves and for future generations.
