The Hypocrisy of Universities

This article definitely falls into the category of complaining. I do not condone that activity in any man. However, since I have, in several formats, offered a solution to the problem I’m about to outline, I have earned the right to bitch a little. Enjoy.

I am an academic of sorts. By that, I mean I deal in words and research. While I’m educated in the traditional sense, I don’t have anything hanging on my wall to certify my level of knowledge in my specific discipline. And that’s the great irony and indeed the motivation behind what I do.

Since masculinity certainly falls under the category of gender studies in traditional academic parlance, you’d think I’d have a degree in gender studies, right? Yeah, no. That ain’t on the menu, bro.

A couple years ago, I looked up the top 30 gender studies programs in the world. I was surprised to find that the premier institution in my own home state ranked #1 in the field. While the second-largest and most prestigious gender studies department had 41 paid staff positions, the University of Michigan had more than 130. Wow, I thought. How lucky for me that I’m so close to a mecca for my chosen work. Maybe I could reach out and see if there was more learning to be had.

Since I’m a giving dude, I sent a copy of my second book, Ideal Man: REVIVING MASCULINITY, to the deans of each of the top 30 gender studies programs in the world, paying particular attention to U of M. I included a respectful letter introducing myself and the work I do. I figured that since these are supposedly honest, scientific research institutions, maybe my work could help them somehow. Maybe it might even lead to a conversation or two — conversations that could eventually put me on a path toward finally getting that PhD that would look so nice on the covers of my books.

What I found out is that anything dealing with masculinity that isn’t at least blatantly dismissive — and at most outright condemning — of men, especially straight white men, gets tossed straight into the wastebasket. The few men in academia listed as being interested in masculinity are completely neutered. I spoke on the phone with two who were willing to take my calls. One guy made his reputation with a graduate thesis arguing that:

“…the male locker room environment is a disease that can be cured.”

He told me that because of that stance, he was offered a free PhD at six of the top 30 institutions I mentioned earlier. Naturally, that call didn’t go so well.

The second guy I spoke with, at a school in upstate New York, was far more receptive to what I do. After reading the book I sent, he told me he believed in my work and encouraged me to keep going. Good guy. I invited him to hand that copy to a young man who might need it, and I told him I’d happily send another one for him to keep. There was a pause.

“Listen, man. I love your work. Definitely keep going with it. We need it. Bad. But just having your book on my desk would get me censured. Handing it to a student would get me fired. I hope you understand, man.”

I understand.

As I said before, I don’t have a degree in masculinity. I’ve chosen instead to pursue a self-guided curriculum and bestow upon myself a PhD in progress. I’m learning my ass off, and I’m trying to give away everything I’ve learned. I’ve got to thank trailblazers like Jack Donovan, David Buss, Warren Farrell (to some extent) and others who are willing to do the research and write honestly about boys and men. I listen to countless podcasts, read a mountain of books, and speak with experts whenever I can. The information is out there.

The irony I mentioned earlier might actually be hypocrisy, at least within universities. They market themselves as open-minded, inclusive, and diverse, but they have no use for the men who imagined and built the very world they occupy. I don’t like that shit, but it confirms the need for my mission.

We soldier on. I keep paying attention, and I keep writing. I keep offering help to those males who need guidance. That’s my lane, and I stay in it. Let me know how I can help you, bro.

jossmanmethod@gmail.com