Let’s get one thing out of the way: masculinity isn’t in crisis. The mythology of masculinity is. And the poor lads raised on that mythology? They’re circling the drain, clutching their protein powder and Jordan Peterson audiobooks like talismans.

For years, media outlets and thinkpieces have treated this trend with a kind of genteel pearl-clutching: Why are boys falling behind? Why are young men so angry? The New York Times took a data dive, The New Yorker philosophized, and CNN turned to Scott Galloway, because nothing says "manhood" like a venture capitalist with a podcast.

But the answers aren’t that complicated. We’re watching the slow implosion of the patriarchy’s training manual—and the guys who were never given a replacement copy. And instead of adapting, a growing number of them are rage-quitting reality and logging into Reddit.

Modern Man, Factory Reset

The world boys were implicitly promised doesn’t exist anymore. Being born male no longer gets you a guaranteed job, a docile wife, or unquestioned social authority. And while that’s a good thing for everyone not actively auditioning for a reboot of Mad Men, it’s leaving a lot of young men confused, bitter, and primed for manipulation.

Instead of being taught how to exist in a world of shifting norms, they were fed action heroes, stoicism-as-a-virtue, and a sprinkle of "nice guys finish last". That cocktail doesn’t exactly prepare you for egalitarian partnerships or processing complex feelings. It does, however, leave you emotionally constipated and highly susceptible to YouTube algorithms.

So when things get hard—emotionally, academically, sexually—there's no roadmap. Just a flashing neon sign that says, This Way to the Manosphere, sponsored by Hustler's University.

The Patriarchy Screws Men Too

Let’s talk about the real con: patriarchy isn’t some male-exclusive advantage buffet. It’s a control system that limits everyone. For women, that means diminished rights and expectations. For men, it means the only approved emotions are anger and horniness, and the only allowed goal is dominance.

When that structure starts to crumble—as it damn well should—you get generations of dudes looking around like, Wait, you mean I have to learn empathy?

Yes, Brad. Yes, you do.

But instead of tools for growth, they’re handed the emotional equivalent of a participation trophy: validation from online grifters who assure them they are the true victims. That’s the sweet spot the manosphere exploits: legitimate confusion weaponized into cultural backlash.

Lonely, Angry, and Extremely Online

Statistically, boys are struggling: dropping out of school more often, underperforming in reading, dying younger, and increasingly isolated. These are serious issues. But they get packaged into TikToks blaming single moms and feminism, instead of, say, addressing education policy or healthcare.

The manosphere thrives on this sleight of hand: real issues, fake causes, even faker solutions. Andrew Tate's "drive a Bugatti, choke your girlfriend" school of thought is what passes for masculinity coaching now. Peterson offers the PG-13 version, wrapped in Jungian word salad and lobster metaphors.

And for many of these boys, it works. It feels true. It feels like someone finally sees their pain.

But here’s the thing: the manosphere isn't empowering young men. It's grooming them to be cannon fodder for a patriarchal system that already failed them.

Next Time: Meet the Men Who Sold the Myth

In Part 2, we’ll name names and torch bridges: Peterson, Tate, Molyneux, Fuentes, and the rest of the sad little wizard cabal leading boys into a dungeon of delusion.

Spoiler alert: there’s no treasure in that dungeon. Just more podcasts.