Why Are Men So Unhappy?

[Vagabond]

There is a really extensive feature in today's Times about the state of 'men's happiness' these days. It's really interesting reading. It's in one of the supplements. Just thought I'd recommend it if you can still get your hands on it. Saturday's Times.

The gist of it is that women have overtaken men in terms of social mobility, friendships, jobs, 'knowing' their roles in life and that men are floundering. Men no longer have strong social networks and rely on their partners for their social lives and find little satisfaction outside of work.

One thing that really rang true to me was how many men rely on their partners for their social life. How few friends they stay in contact with and how little socialising they instigate for themselves.

Really worth reading.

I don't give a fuck whether they are happy or not. Seeing as I don't have to live with one or care about their unhappiness in any way shape or form.
Hurrah!

Smacks very much of 'two's a trend, three's a feature' to me. But I haven't read the article.

I suppose it's quite good to have boring, demoralising patronising evidence-free rubbish written about men's lives for a change.

ha! win win situation for you Gay40

But what he's saying is surely true for just about everyone? Not just men? Interesting in general, but I hate that "women do this and men do that" angle.

Wish I had a cave, dammit.

On the flip side, I think women are more moany.

they've got more reason to moan

I am a dh with no social life, because I don't have the energy. Which is not great, but to be frank, I'm also too knackered to be miserable.

As for some of you lot, it sounds as if you need to pull your fingers out and get your other halves to do their share!

Oh, boo hoo, poor men.

Seriously though, what bullshit. Life isn't easy for men or women. Talk about an article about nothing.

Fwiw, our closest friends are a mix of mine anad dh's from our (seperate) uni days.

Just to state the obvious, each man is as individual as each woman.

Here are 3 examples of unhappy men from the top of my head:

A man with a mother who has carped, criticised and belittled him for over 40 years.

Similarly a man with a wife who bullies him as well as nearly everyone she comes across.

A man given a hurtful and demeaning nickname by his male boss which is used every day in his workplace.

General privileges don't cancel out the extremely debilitating specific hurts directed at each of these particular individuals.

well, . . i only hope this title still applies to my EX. . .as he deserves it . . . .a wife beater!!

Are men unhappy as a group? I'm not sure.

Some men as groups are unhappy of course. Let's remind ourselves of the heirarchy of happiness:

1. Married men
2. Single women
3. Married women
4. Single men

So single men as a group are unhappy. Because they're not getting regular sex and have to do their own laundry? But that doesn't explain why single women are happier than them and than married women, as they too aren't getting regular sex and have to do their own laundry. Hmm. Dunno.

"How few friends they stay in contact with and how little socialising they instigate for themselves. "

Actually that sounds like me not DH. But I'm not unhappy about it.

Thank you Milou2 for a sensible post.