Stiffed: How Susan Faludi Anticipated Today’s Crisis in Young Men
The book was prescient about the men’s crisis
In 1999 I had the privilege of accompanying my ex-wife as she interviewed author Susan Faludi for a national magazine about her just published book: "Stiffed: The Betrayal of the American Man.”
I remember having trouble imagining the attractive and soft-spoken author presiding over the graphic porn scenes described, as she related interviewing the male participants.
Ms. Faludi laid out her dire vision of the struggling situation of men at the time. Today her book emerges as a prescient examination of the male experience in a transforming America and the world, young men everywhere seem to be having trouble dealing with radical change.
As we witness a burgeoning crisis among these young men — marked by economic instability, shifting gender roles, and a crisis of identity — Faludi’s insights resonate with striking relevance, suggesting that she had, in the late 20th century, anticipated the challenges that would come to define the male experience in the 21st.
At the time “Stiffed” was published the conversation around gender was predominantly focused on emerging women’s rights and the challenges still facing them.
Faludi, who had previously authored “Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women,” turned her attention to men in “Stiffed”, presenting a nuanced and empathetic exploration of the challenges they faced in a world that was already rapidly moving away from traditional notions of masculinity.
At the heart of Faludi’s thesis was the idea that American men were experiencing a profound sense of loss and betrayal, in that context, the particulars were somewhat different than today. The betrayal, she argued, was not at the hands of the newly advancing feminist movement, as some had claimed, but rather a result of broader societal and economic shifts already becoming evident.
The decline of manufacturing jobs, the rise of a culture that valued appearance over substance, and the erosion of institutions that once provided men with a sense of purpose and community had left many feeling adrift.
Faludi’s book delved into various facets of American life at the time, like the shrinking job market in traditional male industries. Long before Tic Toc the book noted the glamorization of superficial masculinity in media and advertising.
Through extensive interviews with men from various walks of life — including military veterans, laid-off workers, and celebrities and even porn stars — Faludi painted a picture of a gender grappling with a feeling of obsolescence and having an identity crisis.
Fast forward to today, and the themes explored in “Stiffed” are more relevant than ever. Young men are growing up in a world where the economic certainties of previous generations are no longer a guarantee. The gig economy, automation, and the shifting demands of the labor market have created an environment of precarious employment and uncertain futures. The traditional role of men as providers and protectors is being continually redefined, leading to confusion and frustration.
Today, the rise of digital culture has brought new challenges. Social media and online dating, for example, have again transformed the way relationships are formed and maintained, often emphasizing superficial traits and fostering unrealistic expectations making for the unsteady footing many young men deal with. Before gym culture, the pressure to conform to certain standards of physical appearance and success, constantly amplified by media and advertising, was already evident to Faludi’s observations of an ‘ornamental culture’.
The book also touched on the generational disconnect, a theme that remains pertinent. Today the rules have changed but the new playbook is yet to be written.
In examining the current landscape, it’s clear that Faludi’s “Stiffed” was not just a commentary on the state of American manhood at the turn of the millennium. It was a foresight into the complexities and challenges that were starting to define the lives of young men in the decades that followed.
Her exploration of the male experience, once seen as a departure from the traditional discourse on gender, has proven to be an essential contribution to our understanding of how societal and economic transformations impact not just one gender, but all.
Today, as we continue to navigate these transformations, “Stiffed” stands as a crucial reference point. It reminds us that the crisis facing young men is not as sudden or unexpected as might be assumed but the culmination of decades of change. Understanding this context is vital as we seek solutions to support the next generation of men in finding their place and purpose in a world that is markedly different from that of their fathers and grandfathers.
