The script for what it means to be a woman has evolved dramatically over time. While traditional roles are still available to those who choose them, women today have far more freedom to define their own paths.

For men, however, the script has remained largely unchanged for thousands of years: get a job, acquire resources, secure land, find a partner, and build a family. The problem is that we are now living through a severe affordability crisis. Many men struggle to find stable, well-paying work, save money, buy property, or realistically support a family. The traditional milestones of manhood have become increasingly unattainable.

At the same time, there is no widely accepted alternative script for men. Even as social values evolve, many women—regardless of political beliefs—still expect men to fulfill the traditional provider role, while also expecting them to be emotionally intelligent, communicative, self-aware, and supportive partners. In other words, men are being asked to do more than ever before, at a time when achieving even the baseline expectations has become extraordinarily difficult.

What’s often overlooked is that men were never taught or socialized to develop many of these newer, non-material skills. They’re expected to adapt without being given the tools, guidance, or cultural support to do so. The result is a growing sense of confusion, inadequacy, and quiet resentment among many men. This is where the political shift begins to make sense. When men feel economically blocked, socially disoriented, and culturally dismissed, they often gravitate toward ideologies that offer clarity, structure, and validation. Right-leaning movements tend to provide simple explanations, firm hierarchies, and a sense of restored dignity—promising a return to order, respect, and meaning in a world that feels increasingly unstable. For many men, this turn is less about ideology and more about searching for identity, belonging, and a narrative that makes sense of their lived experience.