Why Every 14 Year Old Wants to be Andrew Tate
The symptom to a bigger problem.
The legal and ethical torrent surrounding the Tate brothers is messy at best but their messaging continues to be attractive to young men. Why?
Andrew Tate and I actually share a common goal. We are attempting to fill the vacuum of role models left by society’s partial demonization of traditional male responsibilities.
Progressives have been effective at moving the world to a more respectful and inclusive place over the last 50 years. This has resulted in unintended consequences:
Removal of Purpose
Look no further than the most recent blockbuster hit, Barbie, for examples of how pop culture parodies the lives of men. It alienates boys who are being told they are part of a societal problem of misogyny that they’ve never participated in.
They’re being told the most fulfilling purpose they should aspire to — working hard and providing for their families — should be thrown out based on an antiquated view of gender roles.
What are they told should replace that purpose? The answer seems to unanimously be some form of activism.
The real answer? Becoming role models that restore honourable purposes.
Love
Family
Charity
Parenthood
Community
Destruction of Good Institutions
In the charge towards a more fair and inclusive world we’ve made the mistake of demeaning social and cultural institutions that have served us well for hundreds or thousands of years.
A quick example is the growing “trad wife” or “lazy girl” movements.
I’m by no means claiming this lifestyle is best for all or even most women. However, there is a proclivity among women to want to return to the life of a stay at home mother. In fact, 84% of working women say they aspire to that luxury.
How about the fact that 40% of Gen-Z and Millenials think marriage is outdated.
The answer? Role models that restore and uphold good institutions.
Marriage
Education
Religion (contested but I’d argue religion does more good for people than bad)
Family
The Death of the Father
Growing up, I had plenty of people who would correct my behaviour and teach me good values if I was out of line. My dad, uncles, hockey coaches, teachers, cousins, neighbourhood hooligans.
That pool of men is shrinking for kids today.
Two alarming USA stats:
40% of children are now born out of wedlock (up from 4% in 1930) and 25% of children now grow up without a father of any kind in the house.
The answer? Role models that restore fatherly advice.
Tell the truth… or at least don’t lie.
Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient.
Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.
Work as hard as you possibly can on at least one thing and see what happens.
In a demographic starved of purpose, direction and fatherly examples, a man with a vision for your life like Andrew Tate becomes an easy mentor. Regardless of how misguided the vision is.