It’s become very apparent that far too many boys and men within our society are struggling. Popular television series like Netflix’s Adolescence and HBO Max’s The Pitt explore how online ecosystems have become hotbeds of misogynistic content that keeps teens and adults stuck in the status quo — within the confines of a society that doesn’t support what all of us, regardless of gender expression, really need to live greatly.

The Gambrell Foundation is deeply invested in supporting our young people and our communities. Our partnership with the American Institute for Boys and Men supports shifting policy and public conversation that will ultimately enhance the wellbeing of boys and men, and therefore enhance the resilience of all our communities.

Can you tell me more about what inspired you to start the American Institute for Boys and Men?

For many years, I worked as a scholar focused on inequality, typically class- or race-based. But gradually, a new pattern emerged that I could no longer ignore: the modern male, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, was in trouble.

As I delved into the data, the picture became starker. In 1972, men were 13 percentage points more likely than women to earn a bachelor’s degree. Today, the gap is reversed: women are 15 percentage points ahead. That is a 28-point swing. Meanwhile, men account for nearly three-quarters of “deaths of despair:” suicide, overdose, and alcohol-related deaths. And policy efforts, however well-intentioned, often fail to reach men. A free college initiative in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for example, raised female college graduation by 50%, but had zero effect for men.

In short, the problems of boys and men are real, structural, and dangerously neglected. I founded AIBM to change that — not by pulling away from efforts for women and girls, but by finally turning toward boys and men with equal compassion. We can do two things at once.

What are some of the biggest challenges that boys and men are facing, and why are these challenges so substantial?

Three areas loom large in my mind: education, work, and family.

1. Education: Boys are struggling in school. Two-thirds of high school students in the top 10% academically are girls. For every 100 women who earn a bachelor’s degree, only 74 men do. Boys are on a different timeline developmentally than girls — especially in terms of executive functioning and impulse control — yet our education system often assumes a one-size-fits-all model.
2. The labor market: In 1979, the typical weekly earnings for men with a high school diploma were $1,017 (in today’s dollars). Today, that figure is 14% lower, at $881​. One in three men with only a high school education is now out of the labor force entirely. The overall male labor force participation rate dropped 7 percentage points between 1970 and 2023.
3. Family: The traditional male role as provider has eroded, but we’ve failed to provide men with a meaningful alternative. One in five fathers is not in contact with his children. This has implications for men and children, certainly, but also for society as a whole.

What support is needed to better resolve those challenges at the policy, community, and interpersonal levels? How will that help boys and men Live Greatly?

At each level, we must confront this crisis:

• Policy: Let’s begin by reshaping systems that systematically disadvantage boys. For example, starting boys in school a year later than girls — as Finland effectively does — could help address developmental differences in early education. We also need to encourage men into HEAL sectors — health, education and literacy — with targeted recruitment and financial incentives.
• Community: Local mentoring programs and male-specific mental health support can be transformative. Every community must foster a new, prosocial vision of masculinity that affirms strength and vulnerability.
• Interpersonal: Fathers matter. Mentors matter. Brothers, coaches, and friends matter. We need to reassert the importance of deep, sustaining relationships in male development.

The goal is not to return to a past ideal but to adapt. Helping boys and men Live Greatly means giving them the tools, purpose, and support to flourish in a world that is changing rapidly.

How does your work address the highly publicized “loneliness epidemic,” especially within our increasingly digital world?

Loneliness among men is not new, but it has changed with the deep integration of technology in our lives. Male social networks are typically shallower and narrower than those of women — and they often depend on shared activity (like sports or work), which can be lost with job changes, aging, or divorce.

Research shows that men are far less likely to have someone to turn to in times of crisis. One study found that 15% of men say they have no close friends. The rise of digital communication is a two-sided coin: while it can connect us quickly and across distances, it can also fail to provide the depth and presence of real-life male friendship.

Intentional spaces where men can connect are key — whether that’s male mentorship programs, fatherhood groups, or simply environments where men are encouraged to open up. And we must model that vulnerability for the next generation.

What do people most often misunderstand about the work AIBM does?

The biggest misconception is that this work is somehow anti-woman and anti-feminism. It is not. The fight toward gender equality is not a zero-sum game. Men cannot thrive if women struggle, and women cannot thrive if the men in their lives are languishing. We want everyone to rise together in order to build a flourishing society that serves us all.

What does it mean to you to Live Greatly?

To Live Greatly is to live with purpose, connection, and hope. For men today, that often means redefining success — not just in terms of economic status, but in terms of contribution, character, and care.When I think about my own life, I’d say that the thing that has been most important to me is a sense of adding value, not in an economic sense (though sometimes that), but to friends and family and community. The idea of “living greatly” can sound a bit like “living your best life” type guff, but it’s actually, I think, about giving greatly as much as anything else.