Many boys and young men are feeling stressed, even depressed– and detached from people around them. Andrew Reiner observes it in some of the classes he teaches at Towson University, and he spoke with scores of males of all ages as he researched his book, Better Boys, Better Men.
Reiner explains, “A lot of boys do not ask for help because they have been taught that message that if you’re going to be a competent, ascending man, you’ve got to learn to handle things on your own. And I heard that time, and time, and time again from the boys and young men that I interviewed.”
Reiner sees a link between the man-up-and-zip-it approach and some violence in society. He argues teaching boys to pay attention to all their emotions would make them healthier men.
Links to Reiner's other writings and appearances:
The Baltimore Sun: "On Father’s Day, some dads just want to parent without the stereotypes"
CNN: "A shadow pandemic in male suicide"
NBC THINK: "For Father's Day, let's redefine masculinity so dads can give boys what they need"
The New York Times: "Talking to Boys the Way We Talk to Girls"
The New York Times: "Building Emotional Safety Nets for Men"
Nobody Told Me! Podcast: "Andrew Reiner: ...it's important to ask for help"
PBS NewsHour: "A Brief But Spectacular take on being, and raising, better men"
The Washington Post: "For many men, apps can be ‘an important gateway to mental health’"
