Dusty Wentworth

There is a quiet crisis unfolding around us. Not one of war or pandemic, but of something more insidious: the erosion of authenticity in men. Modern culture has perfected the art of the performance—of curated personas, borrowed confidence, and loud declarations of strength that mask quiet fragility. We are told that to be a man today is either to shrink and apologise, or to puff the chest and dominate. Neither is true. Both are hollow. Worse still, men are bombarded from all sides. From certain feminist corners come the cries of toxic masculinity—as though masculinity itself were a sickness to be cured. Yet, often in the same breath, men are berated for being too soft, not manly enough, or lacking backbone. It is no wonder, then, that older men feel their values are under siege, while younger men—lacking guidance—are left overwhelmed and adrift. And in that void, opportunists appear. So-called male influencers, preaching domination and misogyny under the banner of “strength...