Men's Post-#MeToo Confusion Was Performative, Not Genuine
Source: "Opinion | The Confusion Around Modern Masculinity - The New York Times." May 29, 2026. www.nytimes.com
The Gist
Frederick Joseph argues that when men claimed they were confused about how to behave around women after #MeToo, they were mostly faking it. He says if you're smart enough to run a big company, you're smart enough to figure out how to take interns out for drinks without being inappropriate.
Conclusion
The confusion many men claimed to experience about workplace behavior after #MeToo was largely performative rather than genuine uncertainty
Premises
- Men who successfully run complex organizations like Fortune 500 companies demonstrate sophisticated problem-solving abilities
- These same men claimed inability to figure out simple workplace adaptations like taking female interns out in appropriate group settings
- The contrast between their demonstrated competence in complex business matters and claimed incompetence in basic social adaptation suggests the confusion was not genuine
- Men 'took over the entire world' historically, demonstrating capability to navigate complex social and power structures
- Many men adopted 'childlike' behavior specifically during the #MeToo period, suggesting a strategic response rather than authentic confusion
Assumptions
- Business leadership skills transfer to social navigation abilities
- People who can handle complex professional responsibilities should be able to adapt simple social behaviors
- Claiming confusion while demonstrating competence elsewhere indicates bad faith
- Historical male dominance in power structures demonstrates inherent capability for social navigation