Displaced males statistics alarming

WASHINGTON STATE–Rep. Mary Dye, R-9, has introduced legislation, House Bill 1270, to create a Washington State Commission on Boys and Men, first-of-its-kind in the nation. (See "Olympia Update, page 2) "HB1270 focus on key areas involving males, including education, jobs, careers, and financial health, fatherhood and family relationships, physical and mental health, and the experiences of males in the criminal justice system and other court systems," Dye said. The Global Initiative for Boys & Men in Washington State (GIB&M) addresses key elements of past and present social trends which research shows have displaced men and boys, and ways to bring awareness of the impact it is having on them to legislators.

The devaluation of boys and men has been going on for some time, lending to tragic outcomes in both the individual and relational aspects of their lives. The GIB&M has issued a report, the first of its kind, with data identifying six key areas affecting boys and men in today's environment:

1. Physical and mental health;

2. Education; jobs, careers, and financial health;

3. Fatherhood, family and relationships;

4. Criminal justice system and court systems; and

5. Male narrative in the public discourse.

The data uncovered in these areas will educate families, leaders and lawmakers in Washington as well as the nation, and policy makers to implement positive changes in areas affecting boys and men.

In the matter of physical and mental health, data shows growing disparities in healthcare access, affordability, and quality of care here and across the nation. "Data on healthcare access, affordability, and quality of care in Washington and nationally shows boys and men are further behind," according to the GIB&M report. "...the COVID pandemic has only created new challenges."

The data also shows males account for the majority of uninsured adults: 64% of the Washington population in 2021 in comparison to women, of which only 7.2% of the female population is uninsured. Three in four men are obese, and male deaths, according to the American Cancer Society, find 53% are related to cancer, including prostate cancer (2020).

Suicide rates among males in Washington State, according to the Washington Department of Health, between 2010-19 is at 77%, male youth deaths are 80% in their category, males are the majority of suicide deaths between the ages 10-85 and above, here.

Opioid deaths among males here have increased 53% from 2019-20 and has been identified as a serious problem for males at 70.2%, by the National Center of Health Statistics. According to this report, "Boys and men's challenges are compounded due to lack of services, poorer educational outcomes, and lack of father involvement. From 2018-21, there has been a 100% male increase in all drug overdose deaths." Nationwide, 73% of male deaths, nearly 700,000, are attributed to suicide and opioids between 2009-20, with an increase of 41% during 2019-20.

Education, K-12 and higher, for males, has a gender gap in reading, AP course attendance, graduation, and lack of skills needed in career development. "Washington State Department of Education Testing reveals a widening Boy Gender-Gap in reading, students taking AP Courses, and graduation rates. All contribute to the Male College-Enrollment-Gap and lack of essential skills necessary for successful careers," this report reflects.

In comparison, boys in grades 3-5 and grades 6-8 are 7.7% and 1.1% respectively, lower than female counterparts in the Washington students meeting or exceeding standards in English Language Arts (ELA) between 2013-22. In math testing, boys in grades 3-5 showed a slight increase in achievement of 2.8 percent, but a reduction of .1% of scores for grades 6-8 for Washington students meeting or exceeding standards in math for 2013-22. Reading literacy data indicates a consistent gap for boys from 2014-22, which is increasing.

The percentage of males graduating high school between 2013-22 indicated a 6.5% deficit. In Washington, out of 88,000 males who entered high school, 49,000 dropped out with in four years. "From 2013-21, 88,000 males in Washington who entered high school did not graduate in four years," according to this report. "49,000 males dropped out of high school within four years as well. In 2020-21, nearly 5,000 males dropped out of high school."

For those students diagnosed with ADHD, nearly 70% between the ages of 13-17 are boys. Many receive medication, but are there other options?

Addressing students suspended from school; it is found that boys in kindergarten, first, second and third grades show 73.3%, 74.5%,76.0%, and 77.8% are placed in school suspension in comparison to the same grade groups of girls at 26.7%, 25,5%, 24.0%, and 22,2%.

In grades 4-7, boys' suspension percentages increased to 80.7%, 81.7%, then decreasing at grades 6-8 at 74.6% and 70.3%. The same grade groups for girls, the percentages were 19.3%, 18.3%, increasing during sixth and seventh grade to 25.4% and 29.7%. Male students in grades 8-12 reflect percentage decline in eighth and nineth grade (68.1% and 66.2%) but increased to 71.1% and 73.3% in their junior and senior year. Girls demonstrated an increase in eighth and nineth grades (31.9% and 33.8%), but a decrease in grades 11 and 12 (28.9% and 26.5%).

Another Male Gender-Gap is seen in post-secondary education, according to this report, directly correlated to "struggles in K-12 schools addressing boy differences and readiness in learning." The data reflects a 7% increase in female students college enrollment in comparison to only a 2% and not enrolled males increase by 4%. It has been found that males are underfunded in Pell Grants, underrepresented in undergraduate programs by more than 2 million every year since 2003, and 1 to 2 million between 1988-2003. "In 2021, college is 60% female and 40% male," according to this report.

Jobs, careers, and financial health failure rate for males has created an astounding homeless population, fatal occupational injuries, and unemployment.

Males in Washington for ages 20-64 unemployment is 4.6%, compared to 4.4% for females. During COVID, more than 2.3 million males became unemployed during January to January of 2020-21.

Occupation in programs such as nursing and Human Resource (HR) workers for 2021, was predominately populated by female workers. Elementary teacher percentages were 82% female, 18% male; nursing profession 82% female, 8% male, and HR is as high as 81.2% female to a high point of 27.2% for males.

Homelessness percentages are as high as 88.5% for veteran males, to 64% of general male population with an overall accounting of 59.2%. Women who are homeless are as low as 9.1% for unsheltered veterans to 33.3% in the general population. Homelessness impacts boys, men and families and can be contributed to the six essential areas of male displacement. Presently, there is "no menshelters.org, despite men making up 70% of the unsheltered homely population in the U.S."

Changes in the way males are viewed as fathers, in the family and relationships impact their parental rights, violence, assaults, and more impact the scope of equality in Washington state. The percentage of single-parent homes is 24% male to 76% female. Births in Washington State are 32% to unwed parents, child custody, and according to a review by the National Parents Organization found child custody laws, and statues in all 50 states need improving. Eighty-five percent of child support payers of fathers. In addition, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, child support is disproportionately unequal with fathers paying $5,450 annual to the mothers' $3,500.

Sexual assaults against males have been under reported and astonishingly high in the home, workplace, schools, on the streets in the military, in war, in prisons and police custody. It is estimated that 7.9 million boys and men are survivors of sexual violence in the U.S., and 16 million males are victims of domestic violence, according to the CDC. "Sexual violence against men and boys is a significant problem...," according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "It is one that has largely been neglected in research. Rape and other forms of sexual coercion directed against men and boys take place in the home, the workplace, schools, on the streets, in the military and during war, ...in prisons and police custody."

Father-deprived homes see an increase of poverty in both households, guns, drugs, and lower grades in school. There are 2.47 million children who live without their biological father, of which 46% living in a female-headed household will be in poverty. In as much, fathers paying child support, half will also end up in poverty, according to an Orange County, Calif., report. Other statistics reveal 90% of runaways are from fatherless homes and some 279% more likely to carry guns and deal drugs.

Criminal Justice System and Court Systems

In the report, there is clear indication of a "school-to-prison pipeline" male problem at the state and national level. According to this report, "It shows a clear linear path in the treatment of boys in K-12 education, juvenile court, and prison population. It is associated with a poor education; poor employment skills; a history of poverty, abuse, and neglect; an isolation from society; a lack of access to counseling and other services; and a lack of father involvement."

The male narrative in Washington and the national policy is practically nonexistent, which contributes to the "downward trend for boys and men" contributable assets. "Much of this happens because data is not regularly shared." According to this report, an annual "Status of Boys & Men" would help, much like the "Women's Commission that is dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women."

School indicators begin with suspensions which boys top out at 74%, then move into Juvenile detention of over 91%, climbing to 94% of those boys/men becoming incarcerated. In the U.S., gangs are made up of 92% males and 8% female membership. Males also make up 67% percent of the missing adults in Washington.