The Glass Floor: Does Society Ignore Male Suffering?

We recently sat down with George, the founder of The Tin Men—a platform dedicated to exploring men's mental health, education, and the cultural narratives that shape how boys and men are seen. What followed was one of the most important conversations we've had on this podcast.

George approaches these topics from a data-driven, non-ideological perspective. His position is simple: supporting men and boys is not in opposition to women's rights—it's essential to a healthier, more honest society.

Here's what we learned.

The Statistics Nobody Talks About

George started The Tin Men in 2020 after being struck by statistics he'd never encountered in mainstream discourse:

These claims come from government bodies, peer-reviewed research, and large-scale surveys. Yet they rarely make headlines.

When George asked his followers if they'd ever wanted to share one of his posts but didn't out of fear, 81% said yes. That number tells you everything about where we are as a society.

The Glass Ceiling and the Glass Floor

We often hear about the "glass ceiling"—the invisible barrier that makes it harder for women to reach top positions in business and leadership. George doesn't dispute this. But he introduced us to another concept: the glass floor.

While women may struggle to ascend the ladder, men face a different problem. When they fall off, there's nothing to catch them. No safety net. No support system waiting at the bottom.

Men who fall tend to fall further—into addiction, homelessness, prison, or suicide. And when they land there, society is far less likely to extend a hand.

Male Disposability: The Bias We Don't Discuss

There's a study George referenced that found we're more likely to blame a homeless man for his situation than a homeless woman. A man on the street? He must have done something wrong. A woman? She's fallen through the cracks—someone should help her.

Criminal Justice Bias

The disparities extend into the criminal justice system:

Male Violence vs. Male Heroism

Here's a stat you've probably heard: roughly 79% of violent crimes in America are committed by men. It's true, and it matters.

But here's one you probably haven't heard:

The Carnegie Hero Fund has given out over 10,000 awards to people who risked their lives to save strangers. 93% of those awards have gone to men.

We're comfortable discussing male violence. But we erase male heroism. And that asymmetry creates a distorted, one-dimensional view of what men are.

As George put it: "If you constantly talk about the negatives about men and make them feel a certain kind of way, they're almost less likely to want to be the hero."

Erin Pizzey: Founder, Pioneer, Exile

One of the most striking stories George shared was about Erin Pizzey.

Today, many shelters won't accept boys over a certain age—sometimes as young as eight. These are children who are themselves victims of abuse, forced to either return to an abusive home or enter the care system. Because they're male.

Andrew Tate Is a Symptom, Not the Cause

It's easy to point at Andrew Tate and say he's the problem. George sees it differently.

Tate became the fastest-growing social media influencer in history by stepping into a vacuum. He made disaffected men and boys feel seen—something society had failed to do.

We can criticize Tate all we want. But until we address why so many young men followed him, we'll just see another grifter step into that same vacuum.

Talking To Boys, Not About Them

The UK government recently announced "misogyny lessons" in schools. George isn't optimistic.

Sitting boys down for another finger-wagging lecture won't undo the damage. It won't make them feel seen. If anything, it deepens the resentment.

George made a point that applies far beyond the classroom: if you sat down with even the most troubled men in society and honestly listened to their stories, you'd likely find trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and pain. Not excuses—but context.

Understanding doesn't mean justifying. It means knowing where the road starts so we can stop more young men from going down it.

The Takeaway

This conversation reinforced something we believe deeply at SALIENTS: men matter.

Not in opposition to women. Not as a political statement. But as a basic truth that's somehow become controversial to say out loud.

Men are not disposable. Boys deserve support when they fall. And the statistics around male suffering—suicide, homelessness, educational failure, incarceration—deserve the same attention we give to any other group facing systemic challenges.

George and The Tin Men are doing vital work in making these issues visible. We encourage you to follow him and engage with the data he shares.

Because the first step to solving a problem is admitting it exists.

Make Your Ancestors Proud. ⚔️