From Backbone to Basement: The fall of Modern Men
There was a time when men didn’t flinch. They worked hard, raised families, served their country, and did not ask for applause. They did not need therapy apps or TikTok advice to get through life. They had grit, faith, and a sense of duty. You look at men from the Greatest Generation, guys who stormed beaches in WWII, came home, built businesses, raised kids, and went to church every Sunday. That was masculinity with a backbone.
Fast forward to today, and what do we see? A generation of men glued to screens, afraid of commitment, unsure of their purpose. Masculinity is labeled “toxic,” and traditional male roles are mocked. You have got 30-year-olds living in their parents’ basements, more interested in video games than careers. Marriage rates are down, church attendance is down, and too many young men are more comfortable complaining than contributing.
And then there’s the transgender movement. From a conservative standpoint, it’s adding to the confusion. Young boys are being told they might not even be boys. Schools push gender ideology before kids can spell “biology.” Instead of teaching boys to be strong, responsible, and proud of who they are, we’re telling them gender is a feeling, not a fact. That’s not empowerment—it’s disorientation. It’s no wonder so many young men feel lost.
Take Duke University’s Center for Child and Adolescent Gender Care, for example. Opened in 2015, it promotes gender identity as the primary determinant of sex—even over biology. In legal testimony, the center’s director said, “From a medical perspective, the appropriate determinant of sex is gender identity”. This kind of messaging, backed by institutions, reinforces the idea that truth is subjective and identity is fluid—leaving boys without a clear foundation.
Take fatherhood, for example. Back then, a dad was the rock of the family. Today, millions of kids grow up without one. That’s not just sad—it’s a crisis. Or look at work ethics. A grandfather worked six days a week in construction and never missed a day. Now, we’ve got grown men quitting jobs because they’re “burned out” after three months.
From a conservative standpoint, this isn’t progress—it’s collapse. When men stop leading, families fall apart. When men stop working, communities crumble. And when men stop believing in something bigger than themselves, the country loses its soul.
We need to bring back the basics: faith, family, discipline, and pride in being a man. We need fathers who show up, husbands who commit, and young men who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Masculinity isn’t the problem, it’s the solution.
America was built by men who stood tall. It’s time we reminded the next generation what that looks like.
