'They want to feel like men': Why is gen Z turning to rightwing politics?

Comments · 2.6K

• DE

  @deebarnard5439 · 1 year ago

  This is pure propaganda. <br>Pointing the finger at women while the billionaires suck the life out of society.

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• E_

  @E_Rex_Sean123 · 1 year ago

  <i>“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”</i>

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• XH

  @xHiNoTorix · 1 year ago (edited)

  &quot;Men need to feel like they&apos;re in charge&quot;<br><br>It&apos;s absolutely astounding how tone-deaf these people are.<br>Being this dense truly is a skill on its own.

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• TE

  @TedThomasTT · 1 year ago

  Never forget how the guardian did their best to destroy the only alternative we had between 2015-19

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• JB

  @jbri1 · 1 year ago

  it&apos;s all bollocks. None of those &apos;intellectuals&apos; and billionaires believe the world being more liberal is causing your problems, they&apos;re just smart enough/informed enough to know peddling the idea will make them rich/er.

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• AL

  @alexverdigris9939 · 1 year ago

  I&apos;m a xennial male, and will say that blaming women for wanting the same opportunities as men is such a beta, lame ass take. Imagine having a daughter and resenting her for choosing a bright career over raising a bunch of kids in her 20s. Well, I&apos;d fully support her choice in being single for as long as she wants, and pursue her dreams first.

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• TO

  @toadman5184 · 1 year ago

  We&apos;ve had at least 20 years of men being told they are the problem. What did the establishment expect would happen?

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• KL

  @klintcook-z8m · 1 year ago

  So much easier to blame women than the greed of the corporations. You can slap around one while the other will need some actual balls to fight.

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• HA

  @Harry-y4n3m · 1 year ago

  I think these comments are telling... As a young man myself, I can see the appeal of Reform. While I don’t support the party, I understand why some young men do. They want to feel seen. That said, I can see through the political messaging and recognise that the real issues facing the UK go far beyond Reform’s talking points. <br> <br>Speaking to the point of the video, I often hear, both personally and from others my age, that we have it “easy.” As young white men, we’re told we have no reason to complain. We’re reminded that we don’t experience racism, or the challenges women and other ethnic minority groups face. While that’s true, it sometimes feels as though the issues affecting us are dismissed or seen as less important. <br> <br>However, statistically speaking, boys underperform at school. A higher proportion of homeless people are men. Men are more likely to struggle with substance abuse, gambling, and other forms of self-destructive behaviour. They are also more likely to be the victims of violent assault. And recently, young women in the UK aged 16 to 24 in full-time employment have begun to out-earn young men on average, with women earning around £26,500 compared to £24,300 for men. <br> <br>It feels like young men in the UK are being pulled in so many different directions. Some may feel as though they need to carry the weight of traditional values — to be providers, protectors, and family men — but in todays world not fulfil those roles. And with the cultural shift of more women entering and succeeding in the workplace (which is great), it may feel confusing and destabilising. It often seems like young men are stuck in a double bind, held to outdated standards in a society that’s changing around them. <br> <br>Additionally, t also feels increasingly easy for power to be used against young men, particularly through language. Terms like “toxic masculinity” and “mansplaining” can be useful in calling out harmful behaviour, but they’re sometimes used in ways that feel dismissive or accusatory toward men as a whole. These labels can be weaponised, intentionally or not, and contribute to a culture where some men feel they’re constantly walking on eggshells, &nbsp;unsure of how to speak or act without being judged. This could help explain why many young men feel hesitant about approaching women or building relationships. There’s a fear of being misunderstood, labelled creepy, or made to feel like a problem just for expressing interest or being themselves. Of course, the majority of women don&apos;t behave this way, but the perception is widespread enough to affect how many young men engage with the world. <br> <br>I also think one of the ways the political left struggles to connect with young men, especially those from working-class backgrounds — is that its messaging can sometimes feel overly intellectual or disconnected from day-to-day realities. That’s not to say the ideas aren’t valuable, but they don’t always land in a way that resonates emotionally or practically. In contrast, what Reform seems to do well is simply to acknowledge young men. They speak to them directly. Whether or not people agree with the politics, that feeling of being seen and validated can be incredibly powerful. For many, it may not be about specific policies at all, but about feeling like someone is paying attention and seeing them as well as empowering them (for right or wrong). <br> <br>Again, &nbsp;I’m not a supporter of Reform. But, as I mentioned earlier, I can see why some young lads are drawn to it. <br> <br>I&apos;m sure there&apos;re some things here that I may need to clarify or things I haven&apos;t included so feel free to reply.

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• LE

  @Lee-bv6iv · 1 year ago

  The young man at 9 minutes gives me hope. Great to hear someone, that age, using critical thinking.

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• OL

  @olibranch8812 · 1 year ago

  Something that was very briefly touched upon is gender polarisation and stratification, both politically and culturally, in part because online cultural spaces have become predominant and the spheres one is exposed to online are often determined algorithmically by one&apos;s demographic profile. The &nbsp;last ten years have seen the closure of many physical gathering places and community spaces, including pubs and nightclubs which have played important roles in relationship formation. In the 2020s we go out less (because we can&apos;t afford it!), experience algorithim-driven segregation, and then wonder whilst young people are struggling to find partners!

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• JO

  @jo71394 · 1 year ago

  Maybe the problem is these men thinking of women as commodities and not people. That one guy was listing a “wife” in his list of possessions men had 50yrs ago, along with a car and a house. They blame women for being too picky, without ever dissecting their own 1950s icky views and considering whether that might be why women won’t date them.

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