In a world that is openly hostile to masculinity, does our faith offer a remedy?

Consider these shocking examples of male-bashing in our culture:

• A The Washington Post article by a gender studies professor: “Why Can’t We Hate Men?”
• The New Stateman featured a British feminist writing, “Men. You can’t live with them. You can’t shoot them.”
• Trendy hashtag #killallmen
• T-shirts emblazoned with “So many men. So Little Ammunition.”
• Books titled: I Hate Men, The End of Men, and Are Men Necessary?
• A USA Today article states: “At today’s universities, masculinity is almost never discussed except in negative terms, usually with the word ‘toxic’ attached.”
• John Stoltenberg, author of Refusing to Be a Man says, “Talking about ‘healthy masculinity’ is like talking about ‘healthy cancer.’”
• Hugh Howey tweeted, “Testosterone is the problem… Women should be in charge of everything.”
• Testosterone is “a toxin that you have to slowly work out of your system,” said James Cameron, director of the movie Avatar.
• Media researcher, Jim Macnamara, conducted extensive content analysis of more than 2000 mass media portrayals of men (including news, feature articles, talk shows, etc.) and found that more than 75% of all media representations of men portrayed them as “villains, aggressors, perverts, and philanderers.”

 
As parents, we are raising our boys in a toxic stew misandry (hatred, contempt, or prejudice against men or boys), and we should be concerned.

What do we as Christian parents need to teach our sons and daughters?
 
My special guest in the latest episode of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD has the answers. Highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as “America’s pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual,” Nancy Pearcey has written the quintessential book defining the problem when it comes to masculinity in our culture. The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexesoffers us a Biblical solution to what divides men and women, and BOY do we need it. (Pun intended.)

Nancy’s deeply personal journey from victimization with an abusive father, to agnosticism and radical feminism, to affirming biblical masculinity gives her the perfect perspective on this contentious subject. Nancy unpacks the real roots of so-called “toxic masculinity” and discusses why understanding this topic is pivotal for Christian families today.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
 

• Origins of Toxic Masculinity: Misconceptions abound about toxic masculinity and its origins. Nancy dismantles the myth that it started with 1960s feminism, explaining its roots in the post-Industrial Revolution era. She explores how men, distanced from home-based work, lost their nurturing roles, which led to more egocentric and aggressive behaviors.
• Cultural Hostility Towards Masculinity: The episode delves into societal attitudes, giving examples like misandric merchandise and high-profile statements against men. A shocking survey reveals that a significant percentage of men feel victimized by society’s hostility towards typical male behavior.
• Positive Masculinity Scripts: Nancy emphasizes the importance of promoting the ‘Good Man’ script—values of honor, duty, integrity, and responsibility—over the toxic stereotypes often portrayed in media and culture. Encouraging men to recognize their innate capacity for good can be more effective than labeling them toxic.
• Pandemic’s Impact on Fatherhood: The discussion touches on how the COVID-19 pandemic brought men closer to their families. Nancy shares compelling personal experiences and data showing men’s desire for more flexible work arrangements post-pandemic to stay connected with their children and homes.
• Balancing Career and Family: Highlighting the historical perspective, Nancy and I discuss how modern families are finding ways to intertwine economic activities with family life, much like the pre-industrial era. We share inspirational anecdotes of men balancing work and family commitments creatively.

Join Nancy and me for one of the most important conversations we have ever had on CP/CW, as we navigate the contentious and critical topic of masculinity by offering profound insights, hope, and clarity for Christian parents in today’s chaotic world.
 
To hear this vitally important message on Life Audio, by click on the image below:

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Nancy’s Bio: Nancy Pearcey’s latest book is The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her earlier books include Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 20 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as “America’s pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual.”

Nancy Pearcey’s Website