Madeira Consorcio

153 Madeira Consorcio meeting 19.7.2025

We met in the Gallery and saw this video:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2025/may/13/they-want-to-feel-like-men-why-are-gen-z-men-turning-to-rightwing-politics

UK teenage boys were asked why their group seems to prefer right wing parties, whereas girls in their age group tend to favour left wing parties.

The word “control” came up, people want to be in control of their lives, and the Generation “Z” doesn’t have a good outlook on their lives, because jobs and job training opportunities are scarce. In terms of relationship, they do not have much hope of finding a partner. They want to feel like men; and they want respect.

Respect, we know, has to be earned, and it usually is built by success at work, and at least in this regard, finding meaning of life. Cl. said that as a youngster, he tried out many things, and made mistakes but his parents accepted this as normal. He also had a good start because although they didn’t have a high education, they allowed him to buy and read a lot of books. (In our group, we had a good foundation for this life.)

Youngsters also complain that life is too expensive now; it will be difficult for them, even with a good job, to someday buy an apartment. The girls have high demands on a potential partner, and the internet turns this into a competition between males for females. Girls can do without a provider, as they can earn their own money. They do not have to marry any more for economic reasons.

Youngsters do not want to make mistakes, it seems too risky. They are afraid to step up and try things out, they are stuck, and stay at home with the parents, in their comfort zone. (C. said that Dolphins kick their young males out of their group until they have “grown up” and can be re-admitted once they behave better.) Artificial AI “friends” do not argue with their human users, this will be a new “way out” for them (pizza and online games).

In the UK, Nigel Farage’s Reform party is using this insecurity, to compel men to vote for a “back-to-the-old-times” party. (However, many youngsters may not bother to got to the polls.) University is for “the rich” and the population is not in favour of the “upper” education.

U. said that everybody is looking for purpose in their life. And this is not easier, if you are without a good education and good prospects. Then there is the threat of AI, which will replace peoples’ jobs with machines.

There is a sense that happiness is often absent and that there is no justice in life. Stable families are rare now, this adds to the feeling of insecurity. Women are empowered much more. Maybe they could step back a bit, but why should they make space for a partner who does not fit the ideals which are transported by the internet?

U. said, on Madeira (catholic, a bit more fatalistic) and also in other countries, people simply hate their jobs, and have no fulfilment in life. Work is a necessity to make money, and if you don’t like your job, you have to stick with it. You could look actively for a better job and work conditions, but is comes with risks. Many people are averse to risk-taking now.

Sport has a big positive effect, it channels the testosterone energy away from aggressiveness toward others, but sports activities are declining in the population (too much pizza and soft drinks). The internet is bad for youngsters because they keep comparing themselves to their peers and see themselves a coming up short; this causes a kind of paralysis.

This way, youngsters are more frustrated and even angry. Through influencers like Andrew Tate and his brother, the aggression is turned against women and anybody who could be not “us”. The State can become the enemy as well (vaccination). Another result can be depression.

On Madeira Island, we are privileged and are “complaining” on a high level. In our group, we are grateful for our situation.

Is is also true that this year, we have less wars on the world, although with Gaza and the Ukraine, we fail to see that. (https://ourworldindata.org/war-and-peace). Positive news are drowned out.

In Germany, a group of around 300 radical AfD followers gets a lot of attention, but this is overblown for the effect they could possibly have with any of their actions.

It would be good of people were to comprehend that Facebook etc. provides only a bunch of lies. And where is nowadays the 1970’s energy which challenged the establishment but also enticed youngsters try to find other ways to live a better life?