So, I've been cruising the
Art of Manliness blog and just listened to an interesting
podcast of an interview with Walker Lamond author of
Rules for My Unborn Son. In it they talk about the rejection of the traditional male role models of the forties and fifties and how there was nothing to take their place once those role models were dethroned. The phrase they use is "
throwing the baby out with the bathwater". They makes for a good read and listen, the point is that there were problems with those role models (like authoritarianism, sexism, racism...) and while we were right to get rid of them, we also lost many of the valuable things that those role models provided such as leadership, integrity, respect and a willingness to take on responsibility; in short just growing up. Without any good male role models to take their place these qualities have subsided in the new generations of men.
The challenge with identifying male role models is recognizing people who are 'quality' men; folks young boys can emulate. It isn't that there is anything distinctly masculine about responsibility, leadership, etc. but it can be difficult to find a male role model for a boy to have actual contact with on a regular basis who has these qualities.