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“The Book of Man” author Bill Bennett on the challenges facing men in today’s economy and culture.
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In the battle of the sexes it looks like women are winning.
Back in 1970 men earn 60% of college degrees today women are out earning man in degrees nearly three to two.
Our wages have risen 44%.
In the last forty years.
Men's salaries -- just 6%.
-- -- is falling behind my next guest has some guidance for the coming generation.
Joining me now William Bennett New York Times best selling author his latest book the book of man readings on the path to manhood.
Doctor -- was also -- secretary of education under president.
Reagan welcome to show with some good indicator to banks and being here if you.
I wanna start with the question what is going on with young boys and then why are they so far behind.
It's not clear but it what is clear is that they are I think we're not pointing them to the idea of what they should be putting them.
To what -- is -- when it should mean we're confusing them.
-- -- -- lots of different signals as you know blessed and twenty years of bickering about women and can you do this to me that can work can be homemaker.
Lots of thought about what women should be.
Hardly any discussion about what -- should -- As it turns out when things start to get -- -- -- society when definition start to break institutions like family.
Looks like the boys get hurt worse -- the girls they may be more fragile they may need more structure than girls even when you see the broken families.
Women end up often -- usually with the children and economically they have problems but they -- better in the -- Men need these structures.
Always need these structures need this advice and these deals were to become -- -- are doing the book its offer by pointing.
To various kinds of man men in the past -- the president equipment should be.
And analyst and you quote.
Them and and give people a chance to actually read what others are saying right.
And profiles have been real man in the real world regular -- regular working people are you that's not -- good examples out there now for people to follow there are not enough.
And it's confusing to boys Jerry to six and a new sitcoms this fall off five of them have these very strongly word would suffice -- The other one is last man standing which is which is -- be -- comment.
But people people don't believe me that struck him that since the books come out I've heard from women in their twenties and thirties and they are saying what has happened to these men might gonna have to drop my standards there's a lot of -- nodding.
Well pew research in -- -- -- they show that women young women or marrying dammit I'm -- gold bearing down the social latter now.
-- on the and that economic collateral emerge.
-- they -- -- achievement that word ambition.
And I think you could probably fill the elite colleges.
In America if you didn't entirely on.
The test scores and achievement levels that would be 90% but keeps them.
It has turned around as we want everybody can't yes we can do because actually the end of the day women want men who are there equals and it's a bad thing for all of us and don't measure up so we need to put -- in the repair.
Well obviously lots of changes going on with young men and women today but I also wanted to ask you about occupy Wall Street sure because I wonder if -- if it says something.
About the role of the -- at the says something about young people and their ambitions and their goals and now where they're headed.
Well one wonders I was wondering -- they have jobs you know when you do what do you do during the day and that is one of the things and the founding fathers said that when they talked about citizenship they thought three things for critical for people to succeed -- -- to work have a job.
The -- marriage was important in the for the faith was important.
And one wonders when you see this kind of what's losses from Wall Street.
I wonder why someone wants to embrace and identify with that politically I think it's a high risk political and you're talking about Obama I would idea.
And I think that embraces there I don't think it I don't think it really represents that many people.
Well I hate you see -- surveyed and and some of the ideas in this group are are not mainstream America at at all.
Well that's right unfortunately because the educational system with to -- -- talk about two.
A lot of Americans don't know what the system as well -- as well.
There's set Republicans are trying to take apart.
President Bush's educational program No Child Left Behind.
I don't believe you're a fan of it either what should replace it.
Not a fan of the details I am a fan of the largest point which is if you get government money you ought to be held accountable.
If you don't want the government money like governor Perry sued -- wanted to follow.
If you take the government money I think you wanna be responsible and reports are your kids are doing whether students are learning about.
-- the implementation I think was.
A lot of problems with that.
Assessment measurement alike and we're better off probably to the states what else care but you get rid of the Department of Education what He could I don't think it would make things any worse I notice all these Republicans to him and to a woman person you're -- that Ronald Reagan thought about getting rid of it when I was for being secretary and He couldn't.
It's pretty hard to get rid of but it hasn't -- things any better but you can certainly limit its role.
By taking that money that the federal government gets in sending it back to the states and letting these very smart governors.
-- work.
Back to Bennett thanks for helping about tonight good luck with -- but thank you very much fascinating read it's good for all of us hope -- -- -- I thought it was that -- -- We'll be right back with way to set.
