Hawley Warns of Crisis Facing Young Men

A growing sense of frustration among young men-spanning work, relationships and identity-is drawing increasing attention from policymakers and religious leaders. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) argues the trend reflects deeper cultural and spiritual fractures in American life.

Hawley discussed the issue with Southern Baptist theologian Al Mohler in a recent podcast conversation.

“You mentioned the manosphere, which makes me think of all of these young men out there, many of whom voted for Republicans and the president this last time around but now say that they’re very disaffected,” Hawley said. “This is just a very disaffected group, because I believe they feel shut out of American society.”

Watch the discussion here:

National data underscores the concern. Labor force participation among men ages 20 to 34 has declined over the past several decades, while marriage rates have fallen and the age of first marriage continues to rise. Research from Barna Group has also found increasing levels of loneliness and disengagement among younger men, particularly those without college degrees.

Hawley, who wrote a book about manhood and masculine virtues in 2023, observed that the difficulties young men face are coming at them from multiple angles and include economic, social and spiritual challenges.

“They’ve been told by the liberals forever that masculinity is inherently toxic and evil,” he said. “They can’t afford to buy anything. They are uncertain about how to have a relationship, how to get married, if they can get married, if they can afford it, all of those things.”

“Manosphere” communities

The discussion comes amid the rise of online communities often referred to as the “manosphere,” where debates about masculinity, purpose and cultural expectations have gained traction-reflecting, supporters say, a search for identity.

Hawley, a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, suggested that the pain and alienation many young men feel offer Christians an opportunity and a responsibility to disciple them but that policymakers also must play a role.

“This is a huge segment of our population,” he said. “We as believers especially have to speak to these men and say to them, `there is a purpose for your life, right? The country needs you; more importantly, the kingdom needs you.’

“And we’ve got to show them that what real masculinity looks like is choosing to be responsible, get that job, get married, have a family. But on policy terms, we’ve got to give them a country where that’s possible. And right now, they don’t think it is possible.”

Some analysts say the challenges facing young men are tied not only to cultural messaging but also to long-term economic shifts, including the decline of stable, middle-income jobs and rising housing costs that have made traditional milestones-such as homeownership and family formation-more difficult to attain.

The crisis facing young men

Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, framed the crisis facing young men in civilizational terms, noting that “no civilization can survive unfulfilled, aimless, restless young men; it just doesn’t work.” He stressed the importance of teaching young men that they must delay gratification and take the initiative in such things as work, relationships and even hygiene if they hope to find later joy and satisfaction.

In a related discussion, Richard Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men, has argued that many young men are struggling to adapt to rapid economic and educational changes, warning that “we have to take seriously the problems of boys and men” in order to strengthen families and communities.

Hawley agreed but noted that the ladder of success that worked in previous generations increasingly feels out of reach for many young men in the United States.

“That’s all what they want,” he said. “And I think that’s the disaffection that we’re seeing right now, is young men are afraid they won’t be able to have it. They can’t always put words to it, but that’s the fear. It’s that, ‘I’m never going to be able to buy a house, get a girl, have children, grow up together.’ They fear they’re going to be shut out of all of that. And they’re not terribly wrong about that.”

The convergence of economic pressure, cultural change and spiritual searching has made young men an increasing focus for both political leaders and faith communities, with many warning that how the issue is addressed could shape broader social stability in the years ahead.

–Alan Goforth