The Crisis of Masculinity: Is the Search for Manhood Going Astray?

We often hear that there is a “crisis of masculinity” in the West. This refers to the fact that testosterone levels are dropping, many men are growing up with weak or absent fathers, and issues like porn addiction, confusion, and a lack of direction have led to a generation of men who feel lost and unsure of what it means to be a man.

In this void, many men look for role models who embody outward signs of masculinity. If a man is charismatic, confident, strong, and successful, he can appear to have the answers. Add in wealth, physical fitness, and being good with women, and suddenly lost men see him as someone to emulate.

But merely cultivating the outward appearance of masculinity doesn’t address the insecurity and confusion that many young men feel. Bravado may mask boyishness, but it doesn’t have the power to transform it into true manliness. So, what does?

True masculinity is downstream of Christlikeness, meaning the pursuit of godliness has the power to shape a boy into a man. Interestingly, femininity is also downstream of Christlikeness. Christ offers more than just a blueprint for manhood; he offers a blueprint for real personhood.

Striving for masculinity as a means to gain more of what you want is a self-centered approach. Pursuing godliness, however, transforms the inner man, teaching him to die to self and live for others. The pursuit of godliness not only perfects the man but also perfects the woman, ultimately transcending the binary of masculinity and femininity.

It’s not enough to be a “good” man according to one’s own ideas. To be a true man is to follow after the God-man—Christ. By emulating the saints, surrendering our lives to Christ, and living the Christian life as prescribed by the Church, a man is sculpted into what God intended.

In conclusion, it’s likely healthier for masculinity to come as a byproduct of the pursuit of holiness, rather than striving for masculinity as an end in itself.

When a man doesn’t feel like a man, or struggles to understand what it means to be one, it can become an all-consuming obsession. But as time passes and a man starts to find his footing, I wonder how productive or meaningful it is to constantly ask, “Am I masculine enough?” Instead, we should focus on fleeing sin, pursuing virtue, and growing in the life of Christ. In doing so, the issues surrounding masculinity naturally fade away.

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