Most boys and young men in the US lack male guidance figures in critical areas
Most boys and young men in the US lack male mentors, especially those from lower-income backgrounds, per new research.
Why it matters
- The lack of male mentors could contribute to the widening gap in well-being between young men and young women.
By the numbers
- 78% of boys have female mentors for schoolwork vs. 62% with male mentors.
- 43% lack adult male guidance for relationships.
The big picture
- Boys from lower-income households are less likely to have male mentors.
- The study suggests that increasing male mentorship could help address issues like lower academic performance and higher suicide rates among young men.
What they're saying
- Some commenters point to societal suspicion of men in mentoring roles as a barrier.
Caveats
- The study relies on self-reported data and does not measure the quality of mentoring relationships.
What’s next
- Further research could explore barriers preventing men from volunteering as mentors and the impact of mentor gender on outcomes.