by Ann Duckworth

Created on: September 27, 2009   Last Updated: September 30, 2009

To understand why men act as they do, we need to understand what society requires of Males and the penalty society gives to Males should they fail in some way. Sad as it is, Males are given a completely different play-book by society from a very young age. First, they are given more aggression from a young age to make them tough. Those Males who appear weak are given more aggression by society. Second, young Males are not given kind, stabilizing mental/emotional/verbal support for fear of coddling. Third and just as important as the first rule in the play-book, Males are given love, honor, respect (the essentials of self-worth) only on condition of sufficient money, power, status. Males must generate this on their own. This also is designed to help make Males tough. These things create higher average stress that impedes learning and motivation, higher muscle tension that creates bad handwriting and less motivation to write. Society is also less supportive when they fail, so many Males seek out instead of academics other pursuits such as sports or games to help generate love, honor, and respect.

The problem for society in the information age and now also for successful women, is that this treatment that may have had some place in the nineteenth century is now hurting Males badly in developing mental/emotional/social/academic skills necessary to compete in the information age. Because of this Males are being shortchanged from a young age from this treatment that is leaving many Males unable to accumulate the necessary skills to relate with more educated persons Male or Female. Note again, when Males appear weak in some way, society grants permission to give more aggression to them. This is why the Male ego, a defensive front set up by Males from a very young age (three or four) designed to protect them from the aggressions they face from parents and society.

Now in case some women have not heard, girls/women are now surging ahead of boys/men academically. They are benefiting from the nineteenth century belief Females should be protected. Since girls are not required to be tough, this creates lower average stress along with much mental/emotional/social/verbal support, knowledge, and skills from a young age along with much love, honor, respect for being Female. This is creating now a 61 percent to 39 percent college enrollment that will increase in gap of 100,000 more women each year. The effects are already being felt in business, the media, and employment. As women know, that protection also allows for much freedom of expression to give from the media and other places more verbal, silent, abuse, and hollow kindness with impunity. This societal approach of now accepting, even relishing the achievements of women and now degrading Males is leaving Males more shortchanged in love, honor, and respect from society. Since Males must generate love, honor, and respect, they are already being bruised by society in those areas. Those Males know very well now that if they appear weak in some way, they will take another beating from others. This is why successful Females are now feeling the romance pinch. When so many Males lose, this will affect society and women also. This must change. My learning theory with cognitive tools for many applications and hope for all will go to all on request.

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