Two months ago, my first son was born. Holding him felt like nothing else—except maybe when my daughter was born. Before he arrived, I read *Of Boys and Men* by Richard Reeves, *The Boy Crisis* by Warren Farrell, and a Boston Indicators report that shook me: boys drop out of school 25% more than girls, men die by suicide nearly three times as often as women, and across the board, boys and men are falling behind.
That data made me anxious—**what are we doing about this?**
Too much of our civic, nonprofit, and policy infrastructure ignores boys. Massachusetts has started with MassMen (a program helping men access mental health care), but we need more to understand and fix the challenges boys and men face.
Yes, some men—wealthy, connected ones—hold too much power. But we can’t let that blind us to another truth: **Low-income and minority boys and men are struggling. They’re sicker, less educated, and have fewer supports.**
I’ve spent years in progressive spaces fighting for abortion access, sexual health, and AAPI rights. I know we can hold multiple truths: **Keep advancing justice for women and people of color, but also take boys and men seriously.**
The numbers don’t lie:
- Suicide is a top killer of men 25–34.
- Men make up 75% of fatal opioid overdoses.
- Nearly two-thirds of students in special education are male.
- Black and Latino boys face even steeper barriers to good schools and jobs.
These problems won’t fix themselves. No single solution exists—we need a **cultural shift** (to see who needs help) and **action**: Hire more male teachers, push young men toward HEAL careers (health, education, arts, law).
Schools, public health agencies, nonprofits, funders, and state leaders must collaborate. Ask: *How are boys and men—especially low-income and minority—doing? What will help them thrive?*
Massachusetts has commissions for women, AAPIs, and LGBTQ youth—they publicize data, shape policy, and spotlight needs. We need that same care for boys and men.
This isn’t about taking from others. It’s about **expanding who we care for**. Stronger boys and men mean stronger families, safer communities, and a kinder society. My daughter has plenty of organizations looking out for her. I want the same for my son—and every boy and man in Massachusetts.