The Masculine Mystique and Male Depression: Embracing Your Vocation of Destiny

Article here. Excerpt:

'It doesn't take social science research to prove that men are angry and depressed. One measure of this trend is the increase in the rates of homicide and suicide we see in males. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), homicide rates for males are three to four times higher than they are for females. Among persons aged 20-24, the male homicide rate is six times higher than it is for females, and it is much worse among minorities than among whites. For those ages 10-19, the homicide rate is 10 times higher for blacks than for whites.

Differences in suicide rates are even more dramatic, according to the CDC. Overall, males kill themselves at rates that are four times higher than females. But as with homicide, certain groups are even more vulnerable. The suicide rate for those ages 20-24 is 5.4 times higher for males than for females of the same age. [1] In the older age groups suicide is predominantly a male problem. After retirement, the suicide rate skyrockets for men, but not for women. Between the ages of 65-74 the rate is 6.3 times higher for males. Between the ages of 75-84, the suicide rate is seven times higher. And for those over 85, it is nearly 18 times higher for men than it is for women. [2]

Why are men so unhappy? The Feminine Mystique told women that they should be satisfied with being wives, mothers, and homemakers. The Masculine Mystique told men that they should be happy to compete with other men to find a woman and then compete with other "breadwinners" to create ever greater material wealth for themselves and their families. We were told that "he who dies with the most toys, wins" and "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Both women and men become depressed trying to fit into roles that no longer work for us.'