CollectiveEvil
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- Aug 24, 2024
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How Western Culture Has Been "Feminized"
Critics argue this shift’s gone too far, tipping balance into dysfunction. Here’s how:
- Emotional Expression Over Stoicism: Post-World War II, especially since the 1960s, Western society started prizing emotional vulnerability. The "strong, silent type" archetype—think John Wayne—gave way to therapy culture, self-help books, and public figures openly crying (e.g., politicians like Bill Clinton tearing up in speeches). Media now celebrates men "in touch with their feelings"—think influencers like Brené Brown pushing vulnerability or ads showing dads nurturing kids over fixing cars.
- Shift in Gender Roles: Women’s liberation and the push for equality flipped traditional setups. By 2020, women made up 47% of the U.S. workforce (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and outnumbered men in higher education (National Center for Education Statistics). Cultural icons reflect this—less Clint Eastwood, more Timothée Chalamet: softer, less imposing masculinity. Family dynamics shifted too—dual-income homes and stay-at-home dads (up 8% in the U.S. since 1989, per Pew) blur old lines.
- Empathy in Policy and Discourse: Laws and social norms now lean hard into care and inclusion—hallmarks of "feminine" values. Think workplace harassment policies, maternity/paternity leave (e.g., Sweden’s 480-day parental leave split), or the rise of "safe spaces" on campuses. Public apologies are standard now—CEOs grovel on X after PR flops, a far cry from the unapologetic tycoons of the past.
- Pop Culture Aesthetics: Music and film swapped grit for gloss. The 80s had Rambo; now it’s Harry Styles in pearls or Marvel heroes debating feelings mid-fight. Even sports—once a masculine bastion—pivoted: the NFL’s 2020 “Football is for Everyone” campaign nods to inclusivity over brute force.
Critics argue this shift’s gone too far, tipping balance into dysfunction. Here’s how:
- Backlash to "Weakness": Some say feminization breeds fragility. Jordan Peterson’s rants about “chaos” from eroded masculinity resonate with young men flocking to his books—1.5 million copies of 12 Rules for Life sold by 2020. Incidents like the 2018 Gillette “toxic masculinity” ad sparked outrage (and a reported $8 billion brand value drop), with X posts calling it “man-hating” hitting viral status—suggesting a cultural recoil.
- Polarization: Pushing empathy and softness alienated chunks of society. The rise of “alpha male” influencers—Andrew Tate got 11 billion TikTok views pre-ban—shows a hunger for old-school grit. Political splits widened too: U.S. men under 30 leaned 53% Republican in 2022 midterms (AP VoteCast), possibly rejecting "feminized" progressive ideals.
- Over-Correction in Institutions: Critics point to education—boys lag in school (girls outperform in reading across OECD nations by 27 points, PISA 2018)—blaming "feminized" teaching styles favoring compliance over competition. Military recruitment’s another sore spot: U.S. Army missed goals by 15,000 in 2022, with some on X blaming “woke” ads featuring women and diversity over hardcore appeal.
- Social Fatigue: The constant call for sensitivity’s exhausting, some say. Cancel culture—e.g., Kevin Hart losing his 2019 Oscars gig over old tweets—feels like feminized “feelings first” run amok. X threads bemoan “everyone’s offended,” suggesting a tipping point where empathy drowns dissent.
