Part 5/16:
Historically, society built a clear "male blueprint": work hard, provide, and thereby gain respect, stability, and a sense of purpose. The decline of manufacturing, heavy industry, and skilled trades—once the backbone of male identity—has resulted in blurred pathways to societal status. Automation and job relocations have shrunk those sectors, leaving many men behind.
Without stable, meaningful employment, men often experience a decline in status, which is not trivial in defining purpose or worth. Studies consistently associate male unemployment with depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation, further fueling withdrawal.