At the time of writing this, the COP26 global climate change conference involving the United Nations had just come to an end. The conference which has been going around for 26 years, brings together world leaders, activists, and other important stakeholders; who use this opportunity to debate policies and measures on preventing and/or combating environmental disasters that are set to engulf the world thanks to anthropogenic climate change. Drive primarily by (so it seems) by the emission of Co₂ over the past few centuries, but particularly in the recent decades. The business of fighting climate change has been going on for a while. 

My knowledge of the subject is not extensive, though I did write a number of essays on the subject and on topics related to it during my time at University. What I did find interesting about this almost 2 week-long event was the pageantry that accompanied it, both inside and outside, which was aided by the presence of members from the royal family (the Queen was supposed to make it but couldn’t attend). Along with the unmissable Greta Thunberg, who was not invited, and is arguably the most recognizable face of the modern climate change movement; who this year graduated to adulthood. 

Speaking of Great Thunberg, the adult, it is also worth mentioning that she is female. And as it happened so were the many of the talking heads of a number of the climate-related discussions that dominated the conference. In fact, a broader look into the climate change movement, if YouTube is a channel, produces videos upon videos of content (particularly TED related) by women on the subject of climate change. To a point where subjects such as ‘climate change’ and ‘women’ seem to have become strongly intertwined.

Climate change is very important. How can it not be? It involves the stability and future of the planet we call home. And any and all measures that can be taken to prevent it, provided they are based on solid research backed by facts (and not beliefs and feelings), should be taken. Provided of course these measures do less harm than good, today and in the long run. What I do find concerning, however, speaking of the COP26, and the broader debate on the subject of gender that seems to preoccupy the agendas of other global public gatherings of notoriety (the Davos World Economic Forum being another example), is that in recent times this topic tends to get married to other major social topics like the climate. 

What is more concerning is the accompanying lack of attention on the status of men. MEN. You heard that right. The carrier of the XY chromosome. The one-half of the human species that, correct me if I am wrong, doesn’t seem to get the kind of attention, that females do. Especially in present times, when a day doesn’t go by when one does not hear some politician, celebrity, social activists of various stripes speaking on the topic of women, women’s rights, gender equality, and of course feminism. But when it comes to the subject of men, in the mainstream culture, there seems to be virtual silence. Wonder why?

On the point about the connection between climate change and women, one explanation is that these two subjects are connected at a deeper level, in a way that concerns that affect men aren’t. The problem however is that the growing preoccupation with ‘women’, has contributed, directly or otherwise to the lack of focus on men. 

What is even more problematic is that this seemingly sycophantic obsession with promoting women’s rights, status in culture (e.g. House of Cards season 06) seems to form an unholy connection with the preponderance of voices, messages, themes, social commentary, and narratives coming out virtually all organs of mainstream culture that characterizes men in a negative light. 

A cursory glance at popular culture shows modern movies, commercials, video games, commentary by politicians, to even books that present men as problematic, weak, and at best obstacles to the advance of women. Which in combination gives the indication that there is some mass cultural cynicism towards men. Making things more complicated is the use of rhetoric such as the “world is dominated by men”. A notion, to whatever extent it is true, combined with other factors, for the average guy following these developments, gives rise to a sense of disenchantment.

When speaking of ordinary men who are trying to find their way in their lives: study, work, grow spiritually, get laid/girlfriend, develop a meaningful career etc. Only to open up a magazine, read a news update, watch a movie or trailer, where the main or underlying message is one that is invariably antagonist into that which is male: By male, I am referring to that which is masculine, heterosexual and one could say traditional. 

These days to be confronted by messages and themes that portray ‘men’ as bumbling incompetent fools (which is usually juxtaposed with the theme of the ‘all conquering female’), is not a new one. But then for these message to be muddled with theory of a “male-dominated society” adds to the sense of exasperation for men who don’t fall into either categories-‘dominators’ or losers-and do not wish to be associated with the latter. 

Emotions aside, as a man one has to wonder what does all of this mean? My inference is that such conflicting messages, combined with the tough reality of life that most are faced with, leaves the average guy with a confused indifference towards life. The average man is not really bothered about who “dominates” society, for he is more preoccupied with everyday concerns like: economic security, physical health, meaningful relationships, a productive career and having an overall sense of stability in life.

So when men are confronted with the frequent and what I find to be increasingly systematic messages (given their preponderance) that portray men (all men presumably) as sexists, misogynists, haters, exploiters of ‘mother’ Earth’ or greedy sons of bi***es (Speaking of Wonder Woman 1984). Together can only have a demoralizing effect on men. Or at least contribute to a broader sense of disenchantment with the world around them. 

So leaving aside the lack of societal concern for men as a sex, in relation to the endless attention that is showered on women and girls; there has been, to my mind, no serious attempt made at understanding the ill-effects produced by such social phenomena that presents men, at least in popular culture, in an overwhelmingly negative. The plight of man, that is the status of the average Joe, has garnered little attention in the public space. The objective of this essay, hopefully the first of many, is to engage this subject, and help moves this towards something constructive.