Book recommendation – Helen Smith, PhD – Men on Strike: Why Men Are Boycotting Marriage, Fatherhood, and the American Dream – and Why It Matters (English Edition)

Transparency notice: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I receive a commission when you buy products on Amazon via my links. The price remains the same for you.

In her work Men on Strike, Helen Smith, PhD, sheds light on an increasingly worrying social phenomenon: men who are consciously withdrawing from the traditional institutions of marriage, fatherhood, and the “American dream.” The author, a forensic psychologist, offers an in-depth analysis and explains why many men in the US (and to some extent internationally) are distancing themselves from society’s traditional role expectations.

👉 Buy the Kindle version on Amazon (Affiliate-Link)

👉 Try Kindle Unlimited free for 30 days (Affiliate-Link)

👉 Buy the paperback on Amazon (Affiliate-Link)

👉 Buy the hardcover on Amazon (Affiliate-Link)

👉 Try Amazon Prime for free (Affiliate-Link)

👉 Try Amazon Prime Student for free (Affiliate-Link)

👉 Buy the Audible audiobook on Amazon (Affiliate-Link)

👉 Sign up for an Audible trial subscription on Amazon (Affiliate-Link)

Content and central theses

Smith begins with the observation that men are increasingly less interested in marriage or starting a family. She attributes this not only to personal decisions, but also to systemic problems that cause men to reject the traditional model of family life. A key aspect of her argument is the unequal treatment of men in the legal system, especially in divorce and custody cases. Men feel disadvantaged when it comes to achieving equality in partnerships or a fair division of parental responsibilities.

Another central theme of the book is the changing social role of men. Smith describes how the traditional notion of the “breadwinner” is becoming increasingly obsolete, while modern men see themselves less and less as the “driving force of the economy” and more as individuals who want to develop their own identity and life goals independently of society’s expectations.

The author also argues that the increasing criticism and criminalization of male behavior, coupled with an often hostile feminist climate, is leading many men to withdraw from the social institutions that were once set as goals for them. Her main thesis is that the “boycott” of marriage and fatherhood is not just an individual problem, but could have far-reaching social consequences that affect both men and women.