Quote of the Day:
One thing is certainly true, though: The American Psychological Association has destroyed itself on the shoals of politics.
–Ben Shapiro in a column headlined "The Scientific Experts Who Hate Science"
The American Psychological Association (APA) has put forward guidelines for treating patients that describe "traditional masculinity" as "on the whole harmful."
Here are the highlights of the APA's conclusions in its 36-page "Guidelines for the Psychological Practice with Boys and Men:"
“The main thrust of the subsequent research is that traditional masculinity — marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression — is, on the whole, harmful,” reads the news release by the famed association.
It notes that research shows “traditional masculinity is psychologically harmful and that socializing boys to suppress their emotions causes damage that echoes both inwardly and outwardly.”
The 36-page document goes on to coin “masculinity ideology,” which stems from traditional masculinity, and claim that it harms boys and men.
“Traditional masculinity ideology has been shown to limit males’ psychological development, constrain their behavior, result in gender role strain and gender role conflict and negatively influence mental health and physical health,” the report warns.
The guidelines come at a time when masculinity is under attack. They are based on trendy academic concepts rather than science.
For example, we are informed that "Psychologists strive to recognize that masculinities are constructed based on social, cultural, and contextual norms." This is by no means proven but the guidelines don't even consider the notion of intrinsic masculinity. It's all trendy social constructs in the eyes of the APA.
A reader can get a good idea of the intellectual foundations of the research, if that is the right word, from perusing the terms that are defined as important: cisgender, gender bias, gender role strain, oppression, privilege, and gender sensitive. As much as the guidelines refer to the "masculine ideology," they themselves are ideology rather than science.
In one of its most promising moments, the report proposes "educational efforts that are responsive needs of boys and men." No kidding. Here is a suggestion: how about an educational effort that recognizes the value of masculinity?
In a critique of the guidelines, Ben Shapiro notes the value of masculinity and dings the lack of science in the much ballyhooed guidelines.
Shapiro writes:
Here's the truth: Men are looking for meaning in a world that tells them they are perpetuators of discrimination and rape culture; that they are beneficiaries of an overarching, nasty patriarchy; that they are, at best, disposable partners to women, rather than protectors of them. Giving men purpose requires us to give them purpose as men, not merely as genderless beings. There's a lot to be said for the idea that our culture has ignored the necessity for men to become gentlemen. But that's a result of a left-wing culture that denigrates men, not a traditional masculinity built on the idea that men were born to defend, protect and build.
One thing is certainly true, though: The APA has destroyed itself on the shoals of politics. And there's no reason for honest-thinking people to take its anti-scientific pronouncements seriously simply because it masquerades as scientists while ignoring facts in favor of political correctness.
That about sums it up,