Uncertainty and ambiguity are stressful for individuals, markets and businesses. The ability to tolerate the angst of uncertainty for individuals appears to be related to one’s hard wired personality. Those who see the world as either black or white do not do as well with ambiguity as those who recognize that life is actually filled with gray.
As it relates to masculinity the uncertainty of what a “real man” looks like in our current post feminist world is making it difficult, especially for boys and younger men, to define their masculinity. The cartoon below from a recent New Yorker is an amusing comment on a man’s uncertainty about the expectations of being a man. Stereotypically, folding laundry is women’s work. Is a man less masculine because he is a good laundry folder?
More and more younger men are paying attention to skin care and fashion without fear of being labeled, by most of their peers, as being gay or a snowflake. Not sure how their fathers view their emphasis on appearance and how they respond when they get feedback that they are unmanly. Does the negative image of masculinity in advertisements that I have highlighted in previous posts, coupled with comments from the likes of Zukerberg and Vance that we need more masculine energy in politics? Unfortunately they don’t define what masculine energy looks like thereby creating more uncertainty about what it means to be a man.
Clearly, the rise in toxic masculinity is a response especially for boys, young men and disaffected older men who have difficulty with uncertainty. It appears that males tend to handle the stress of ambiguity with anger. Research has found that In situations that are ambiguous men, in general, display more ambiguity aversion than women. Women are more likely to use their social skills and connect with friends and family when stressed. On the other hand men tend to internalize their stress because of their false belief that it is more manly to suck it up rather than expressing negative emotions.
Are the politicians and influencers who seek more male energy really craving a return to patriarchy instead of the more difficult path of redefining masculinity?
It is obvious that in our open communication AI world ambiguity is not going away. However, we can do a better job of not creating the chaos of uncertainty.
One response to “Uncertainty”
Nicely put Richard about the distinction between the abilities for people processing information. Either one prefers black & white only and not ambiguity. I don’t know if it was a learned way of being, who I may have modeled. What stress it must be for those who have difficulty to hold two thoughts about something that conflict with each other aka cognitive disidence.
Grey areas of life are hard to accept or hold in mind I would imagine.
So the person who prefers this this way of processing will want to associate with others that do the same. Example fundamental religions that need rules which to live by. Believe in those enforcing rules and not tolerate those who don’t believe in what they believe in tends to become more fascist beliefs. Not all will go that far but the tendency to be drawn to this is there.
The other side of the fence choice of processing information who accept two conflicting thoughts and respect living in the grey areas of life by living in the question. Allowing others to do so as well at times. But it is not all rosey with this earth school challenges is it?