Of Boys and Men summary

As we’ve seen, educational attainment outcomes have shifted over the last few decades, with girls significantly outpacing boys in many key areas. This evolution presents a need for tailored educational policies that account for differences in development between genders.

So what can we do about this problem? Well, if boys, on average, experience slower brain development compared to girls, there are reasons to think they might benefit from starting school a year later than girls. Such a delay could align their developmental stages more closely with their female peers, potentially reducing educational disparities seen in early schooling.

So far, we’ve focused on the ways in which males are struggling within education systems. But what’s the broader picture? Unfortunately, economic and social trends have drastically impacted men in recent decades, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Four key dimensions have worsened for men: wages, employment, occupational stature, and skill acquisition.

First, wage stagnation has been significant, with most men today earning less than their counterparts in 1979. This decrease in earning power reflects broader economic shifts that have particularly disadvantaged men in the workforce.

Let’s shift our focus to the family. Here, too, boys and men are struggling. In fact, many experts now talk about a societal “dad deficit.” This term refers to the growing phenomenon of fatherlessness and its implications for both individual families and broader social contexts.

Currently, one in four fathers in the United States does not live with their children. This separation often results in a significant loss of paternal contact post-divorce or separation, with one in three children ceasing to see their father a few years after their parents part ways. This trend is compounded by the fact that four in ten children are born outside of marriage, predominantly among less educated parents, demanding a reevaluation of the traditional paternal role.

The escalating challenges faced by men in various spheres – education, work, family – have severe implications for their health and well-being, revealing a distressing pattern of what are termed “deaths of despair.” These include suicides, overdoses, and deaths linked to alcohol, with rates that are three times higher among men than women. Particularly alarming is the suicide rate, which is not only three times higher among men but is rising sharply, especially among middle-aged and younger men.

These tragic statistics reflect more than individual struggles; they are symptoms of a broader societal malaise affecting men. The underlying issues contributing to these high rates of despair are deeply rooted in men’s sense of purpose and societal value. Men are increasingly feeling redundant in roles they once occupied within the family and the labor market, intensifying feelings of worthlessness and isolation.

Solving these multifaceted problems won’t be easy. But we do have one lever that we can pull today: introducing all boys to school one year later than currently standard. This practice is known as “redshirting,” a term borrowed from college sports, where athletes are often held out of competitive play for a season to develop their skills and extend their eligibility, metaphorically wearing a red shirt during this period to denote their status. 

Redshirting has garnered attention as evidence suggests that older children within a school cohort tend to excel academically and socially. This approach is increasingly common; recent surveys show a rise in parents opting to delay their children's school start, especially among those with resources and knowledge about its potential benefits.