LETTER: Men and victimization

Shaun Hughes, Las Vegas – July 11, 2026, 9:02 p.m. A letter submitted by Shaun Hughes challenges a recent Friday commentary titled “Men expecting compassion is the explanation of insanity.” He argues that the piece leans on a familiar grievance‑driven narrative that recasts cultural shifts as systemic victimization. Hughes contends that blaming dating‑app statistics, sitcom tropes and popular song lyrics for a generation of male isolation stretches credibility, turning genuine modern difficulties into a supposed triple standard where men are barred from setting personal expectations. He says an overemphasis on victimhood offers men no real solutions and merely provides an excuse to withdraw from society. He maintains that expecting responsibility, emotional growth and collective effort in relationships is isn’t “misandry.” It is the baseline for a fulfilling life. True empowerment for men, Hughes writes, arises from owning accountability for their own lives and partnerships, not from demanding special treatment based on cultural grievances.