The Boys are Not Alright
A new report entitled ‘Lost Boys - State of the Nation’ was released this week by The Centre of Social Justice. This report highlights a growing crisis among boys and young men in the UK, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It seems boys are falling behind girls on a number of key metrics from a very early age and this is having a negative impact on their mental well-being and their ability to build a future. The report, which makes for very depressing reading, points to the failure of an entire generation of young men, in academic and economic terms, with dire consequences that are now starting to manifest themselves.
Key findings from the report include;
Boys consistently underperform compared to girls academically, with lower rates of school readiness and higher exclusion rates.
Since the pandemic, the number of males aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment, or training (NEET) has surged by 40%, while the increase for females is just 7%.
Nearly half of first-born children live without both natural parents by age 14, contributing to a lack of positive male role models.
Boys aged 15 to 19 are three and a half times more likely to die by suicide than their female counterparts, indicating significant mental health challenges.
The report emphasises that these issues are interconnected, with educational struggles leading to employment difficulties, social isolation, and exposure to harmful content online. In other words, the various factors are symbiotic, they all impact each other leading to a downward spiral of failure and negative outcomes. However, if any of this is to be fixed we must start by seeking to understand how to get to this dire predicament in the first place
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Firstly, our academic education system is more suited to female learning styles. Boys are less likely to want to sit and learn from books and lectures, many of them prefer practical tasks that involve moving around and using their hands to solve problems. As such, boys are more likely to be excluded from school for bad behaviour and to struggle with engagement, contributing to poor academic performance. This disadvantage often compounds, as boys are less likely to seek help and, thus, be supported at school or at home.
Secondly, the decline of the traditional nuclear family and the rise in single-parent households has disproportionately affected boys. Without positive male role models, many young men struggle to navigate critical developmental stages, leading to a lack of direction and purpose. This absence of male mentorship and guidance contributes to the rise in antisocial behaviours and isolation. This dynamic is exacerbated by the fact that they often do not find male role models in schools either.
Thirdly, the decline of traditional manufacturing roles and the rise of service and tech-based industries, has hit young men particularly hard. Many of the industries that previously offered steady jobs to young men with fewer qualifications have shrunk, leaving them to compete for fewer and often low-wage positions. This shift, combined with high levels of youth unemployment, creates a breeding ground for frustration, mental health issues, and criminality.
Finally, societal expectations of masculinity, such as the notion that men should be strong, independent, and unemotional, have made it difficult for many boys to seek help when they face mental health issues. The result is a tragic increase in male suicides and emotional isolation. Even when support is sought, it is often hard to get, there are long waiting lists and much of the support available is inadequate. Boys are also less likely to be part of supportive social circles in which peers can offer help in times of crisis.
It seems the issues that are creating this stark divide between men and women in education, employment, and mental health are deep, structural and likely to continue existing. This means we are nurturing a set of conditions that are leading to long-term social instability. A generation of disaffected, angry and unemployable young men who feel left behind are likely to fall prey to unhealthy coping mechanisms and harmful behaviours, such as substance abuse, crime, violent behaviour and even extremist ideologies.
Therefore, we must view this moment as an opportunity to rethink and reform societal structures in a way that disrupts the current trajectory. We need targeted interventions in education to close the academic attainment gap by using a wider range of learning styles and vocational options much earlier. We need to make mental health support easier to access for boys and nurture a culture in which seeking help is not considered shameful. Men also need better role models at earlier points in their lives so they do not fall prey to influencers selling snake oil on Youtube.
If we as a society fail to act, we risk a growing divide that could lead to deeper inequalities, social fragmentation, and diminished national cohesion. Addressing the ‘Lost Boys’ crisis is not just a moral imperative; it's a necessity for the future stability and prosperity of society.