Poor American guys. They've had a hard go of things on my blog this week. Sorry guys. It all started with my post on<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/11/13/a-glimpse-into-masculinity-and-femininity-in-bulgaria/" target="_blank"> Masculinity and Femininity in Bulgaria. </a>The going got good in the comment section. So if you're not a comment reader or you read the post as soon as I read it, you might want to re-read.

I managed to make it sound like American guys are kind-of oafy and thoughtless. I didn't mean to do this. Or at least not purposefully. By in large American guys are thoughtful, hard working and considerate. Some of the outward markers of traditionally male behavior--opening doors, carrying bags, helping girls out of cars and walking on the traffic side of the street are falling away but these seem to be acts that are more cultural obligations than anything else.

As I wrote in the comments earlier this week, the big problem is that American guys have to deal with independently minded American girls. Girls who have been taught that we can do anything just as well as they can–like open doors and carry our own luggage. Thanks to programs like Title IX, I grew up playing basketball, softball and volleyball. I went to schools that expected girls to preform just as well in the classroom as my male peers and so by the time I headed to college a serious cultural shift was underway. I am part of a generation where for the first time there were more girls in university than boys. That's a pretty big deal considering how long many of the ivy league schools remained single sex.

So, what's a guy to do?  <!--more-->

Well that seems to be what everyone is interested in and talking about these days. American guys are having a hard go of things.

It's been reported that men are facing higher unemployment rates then women given the recession. In 2010 the Atlantic ran an article on the<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/" target="_blank"> End of Man</a>. (Check it out. The article starts this way: Earlier this year, women became the majority of the workforce for the first time in U.S. history. Most managers are now women too. And for every two men who get a college degree this year, three women will do the same. For years, women’s progress has been cast as a struggle for equality. But what if equality isn’t the end point? What if modern, postindustrial society is simply better suited to women? A report on the unprecedented role reversal now under way— and its vast cultural consequences.)

And this fall the Atlantic ran another article this time titled<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/all-the-single-ladies/8654/" target="_blank"> All the Single Ladies</a> (a take on a Beyoncé song). The basic argument is this: as the economy evolves, it’s time to embrace new ideas about romance and family—and to acknowledge the end of “traditional” marriage as society’s highest ideal. This article exploded on the internet and everyone seemed to be talking about it. Now I am too.

Or I will be. I've got to get to school <em>now</em>. So you've got your reading list.